WELLINGTON, Aug 7 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand is accelerating its shift to clean renewable energy, with fast-track referral of three wind farm projects for approval by consenting panels.
If approved, the wind farms would cut about 150 million kg of carbon emissions and create up to 840 construction jobs, Energy and Resources Minister, Megan Woods, said today.
The proposed wind farms, located in Manawatu, near Auckland, and in Southland, would generate about 419 megawatts of electricity at peak output, the minster said.
The three projects would together generate about as much electricity as the Clyde Dam, New Zealand’s third largest hydroelectric dam, Woods said.
“We’re incredibly well positioned globally, to harness wind power, both onshore and offshore.” Woods said, adding, the least-windy sites in New Zealand are considered to have better wind energy potential than the windiest site in Australia.
The development of renewable energy helps meet New Zealand’s national and international emissions reduction goals, decarbonise the economy, reduce costs to household and businesses, and improve the national energy resilience, she said.
Environment Minister, David Parker, said, fast track reduces consenting time by an average of 18 months per project, saving infrastructure builders time and money.
In addition, nine fast-track solar power projects could generate 2.5 times the output of the Clyde Dam, with nearly two million solar panels, so far, referred for consent, Parker said.– NNN-XINHUA
