Energy in New Zealand 2013 report released

22 August 2013

Energy in New Zealand 2013 report released

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has today released the annual Energy in New Zealand report.

The report details the supply, transformation and use of all types of energy in New Zealand and contains facts and figures on energy prices, international comparisons and information on oil and gas reserves.

“Our report found that New Zealand’s renewable share of total primary energy supply was 37% in 2012, which is the third highest in the OECD” MBIE’s Modelling and Sector Trends Manager Bryan Field said.

The report also found most of New Zealand’s production of renewable energy is used in electricity generation and renewable sources met 73% of New Zealand’s electricity generation in 2012.

Other key points of note from Energy in New Zealand 2013 include:

Coal
New Zealand produced 4.9 million tonnes of coal in 2012, unchanged from 2011. Solid Energy’s production was flat for the year with Stockton and Strongman opencast mines picking up production to offset the closure of Spring Creek. Stockpiled coal was driven down in 2012 and this contributed to a 16% rise in coal supply.

Oil
New Zealand produced 15 million barrels of crude in 2011, down 11 per cent from 2011. This meant New Zealand produced 31 per cent of its own oil supply in 2012, down from 36 per cent in 2011. Demand fell 2 per cent from 2011. However, diesel (which is the primary fuel for commercial land transport) rose 2 per cent from 2011.

Gas
New Zealand had 17 producing gas-fields in 2011, with almost 60 per cent of production coming from Pohokura and Maui combined. Total gas production rose almost 7% from 2011, with Maui up 6% on last year’s production.

Almost half of New Zealand gas consumption in 2011 was for electricity generation. Highly-efficient combined-cycle and open-cycle gas turbines provide important coverage for New Zealand’s diversifying renewable electricity generation portfolio.

Renewable Energy
In addition to hydro, wind and geothermal, renewable sources of energy used or being developed in New Zealand include wood and wood waste, landfill and sewage biogas, marine, solar and liquid biofuels.

Geothermal energy and woody biomass is used in direct-use heat applications around New Zealand, and an estimated 66 petajoules was used in 2012. Estimated production of liquid biofuel was 7 million litres in 2012.

Electricity
Electricity consumption fell slightly by 1% with much of the fall in consumption coming from the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and the Wood, Pulp, and Printing Industry.

Background
The Energy in New Zealand report replaces the Energy Data File, which has been produced annually in New Zealand since the mid-1980s. Energy in New Zealand is intended to inform the energy debate and aid energy sector participants in New Zealand with annual strategic planning exercises.

View Energy in New Zealand 2013 and its associated data tables here.

ENDS

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