News
Unlocking the potential for batteries to contribute to security of supply
As New Zealand electrifies, more grid-scale batteries will maximise the benefits of renewable energy and provide extra resilience during times of tight electri…
Past and future spot market volatility
Half-hourly electricity spot prices reflect the underlying conditions in the electricity market. This article explains what’s behind the emerging spot market v…
The levelised cost of electricity
In New Zealand, more electricity generation is needed to meet future electricity demand and replace retiring thermal power plants. The initial build costs of n…
Let the sun shine!
New Zealand’s first megawatts (MW) of solar power were generated and sold on the wholesale market last week. Kaitaia solar farm, in the far north of the North …
Wind power sets new records
Several new wind farms connected to the grid and started operating this year – Turitea, Kaiwera Downs and Harapiki. Find out how this has increased capacity an…
All Blacks “demanding” support from home with electric performance at RWC 2023
There was a wave of change as New Zealanders got back on side with the All Blacks as they steadily progressed through each battle to the 2023 Rugby World Cup f…
Security of supply while two thermal generators are on outage
The ability of electricity supply to meet demand over time is referred to as 'security of supply'. It's about the availability of enough generation capacity ea…
How firming renewables will impact the electricity sector
Aotearoa New Zealand’s electricity system is transforming. More renewable electricity generation, like wind and solar farms, are being built to meet increasing…
The changing nature of electricity demand in Aotearoa
Electricity in New Zealand is supplied by hydro, geothermal, thermal and wind generation. Hydro and thermal generation have some capacity to store energy – in …
The electricity sector transition
New Zealand’s electricity system is transforming. In 2019, the Government passed a law targeting net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To achieve this goa…
High hydro levels and wholesale prices
New Zealand produces over half of its electricity by hydro-electric dams. Upstream of these dams, lakes preserve water from rain and snow for later electricity…
Spot market price volatility in May 2023
In May 2023, the electricity spot market experienced extreme price volatility. Spot prices swung between $0.01 and $3,350/MWh. However, despite occasionally hi…
Solar generation now and in the future
There is currently around 270 MW of installed solar generation in New Zealand. This adds up to about the same capacity of a coal or gas fired Rankine generatio…
First instances of reserve scarcity pricing under real-time pricing
The Electricity Authority implemented real-time pricing for the wholesale electricity market in November 2022 in collaboration with Transpower and the wider el…
Southern lakes, the HVDC and thermal powered generation
Electricity demand and generation differ across New Zealand’s two main islands. The South Island has abundant hydro generation, while the North Island contains…