Geothermal generated electricity touched historic high of 1,400GWh in New Zealand in the three months ended June, according to figures from the country’s economic development ministry.
Electricity generated from geothermal sources rose 23% over the same period last year.
The new Nga Awa Purua geothermal planted started operations in May, lifting the geothermal sector to account for 13% of the country’s total electricity output of 10,831GWh.
Gerry Brownlee, New Zealand’s energy minister, says geothermal generation is a significant source of electricity and with a few new geothermal projects being planned, the market would continue to grow.
Electricity generated from ‘dirty’ coal dropped 60%, and contributed to 17% of total electricity demand, allowing greenhouse gas emissions to slip to their lowest level since the June 200 quarter, as hydro, wind and gas generation rose.
Renewable energy power accounts for about 73% of New Zealand’s electricity generation, with hydro accounting for 55%.
