Wind Farms in Australia and New Zealand

2013 ◽  
pp. 289-323
Author(s):  
Sandy Bond
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Wind Farms

scholarly journals Regional Variability in New Zealand’s Wind Resource Linked to Synoptic-Scale Circulation: Implications for Generation Reliability

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 944-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter B. Gibson ◽  
Nicolas J. Cullen
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Synoptic Climatology ◽  
Synoptic Scale ◽  
Regional Variability ◽  
Zero Generation ◽  
Wind Resources ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Supply Reliability

AbstractEven in locations endowed with excellent wind resources, the intermittent nature of wind is perceived as a barrier to reliable generation. However, recent studies have demonstrated that electrically interconnecting wind farms in a meteorologically oriented network can reduce supply variability and the observed frequency of zero-generation conditions. In this study a 5-yr synthetic dataset of 15 wind farms is utilized to investigate the benefits to supply reliability from wind farm interconnection in New Zealand. An examination is carried out primarily through a synoptic climatology framework, hypothesizing that benefits to reliability are primarily related to the degree to which wind farms are influenced differently by the synoptic-scale circulation. Using a weather-typing approach and composite analysis, regionality is observed in the linkages between synoptic-scale circulation and wind resources, particularly between wind farms located in the far northern and far southern regions of the country. Subsequently, and as compared with all other possible combinations, supply reliability is observed to be optimized in a network that includes wind farms connected between far northern and far southern regions, under which the frequency of hours with zero generation is almost eliminated. It is likely that the frequency of hours with zero generation could be further reduced on the basis of a more extensive meteorologically based selection of wind data from a greater number of locations. It is suggested that these findings should be taken into consideration in future planning and site selection of wind farm projects in New Zealand.

scholarly journals Creating Synthetic Wind Speed Time Series for 15 New Zealand Wind Farms

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 2394-2409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Turner ◽  
Xiaogu Zheng ◽  
Neil Gordon ◽  
Michael Uddstrom ◽  
Greg Pearson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Wind Data ◽  
Regulatory Oversight ◽  
Short Period

AbstractWind data at time scales from 10 min to 1 h are an important input for modeling the performance of wind farms and their impact on many countries’ national electricity systems. Planners need long-term realistic (i.e., meteorologically spatially and temporally consistent) wind-farm data for projects studying how best to integrate wind power into the national electricity grid. In New Zealand, wind data recorded at wind farms are confidential for commercial reasons, however, and publicly available wind data records are for sites that are often not representative of or are distant from wind farms. In general, too, the public sites are at much lower terrain elevations than hilltop wind farms and have anemometers located at 10 m above the ground, which is much lower than turbine hub height. In addition, when available, the mast records from wind-farm sites are only for a short period. In this paper, the authors describe a novel and practical method to create a multiyear 10-min synthetic wind speed time series for 15 wind-farm sites throughout the country for the New Zealand Electricity Commission. The Electricity Commission (known as the Electricity Authority since 1 October 2010) is the agency that has regulatory oversight of the electricity industry and that provides advice to central government. The dataset was constructed in such a way as to preserve meteorological realism both spatially and temporally and also to respect the commercial secrecy of the wind data provided by power-generation companies.

scholarly journals Obstacles and Obligations: Wind Energy and Migratory Bird Protection in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Symone Krimowa
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
International Obligations ◽  
Biodiversity Convention

<p>Wind farms create unique risks to birds because of the danger of the turbine blades, which can be up to 150 meters tall. Placement of wind farms in the wrong areas can have a detrimental impact on bird species. New Zealand’s commitment to renewable energy is shared with its obligations to protect biodiversity, which are reflected in the ratification of international conventions such as the Convention on Migratory Species and the Biodiversity Convention. Domestic legislation, such as the Resource Management Act 1991, seeks to enhance the development of alternative sources of energy with the intention of reducing the effects of climate change on the environment and conserving indigenous biodiversity. Migratory bird protection in the wind farm context in New Zealand relies upon environmental impact assessment under Schedule 4 of the Resource Management Act 1991. International obligations include protecting or endeavouring to protect 37 migratory bird species along their complete flight paths. The Resource Management Act 1991 does not meet international obligations to protect migratory birds in the wind farm consent process because (1) the assessment of environmental effects process fails to adequately identify effects on migratory birds; and (2) even if the assessment of environmental effects process adequately identifies effects on migratory birds, the RMA fails to give priority weight to effects on birds when it balances those effects with other factors in deciding to approve the wind farm application. Other countries provide guidance on the next steps for New Zealand to take to comply with its international obligations to migratory birds.</p>

scholarly journals Giving voice to the ‘silent majority’: exploring the opinions and motivations of people who do not make submissions

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Stephenson ◽  
Rob Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Industry Association ◽  
Silent Majority ◽  
True State ◽  
Planning Processes

As captured in the quotation above, there appears to be a widespread assumption that there is a ‘silent majority’ of people who support proposals but do not make submissions, and that those who do make submissions tend to be opposed and therefore do not reflect the true state of public opinion. The New Zealand Wind Energy Association (a membership-based wind industry association) suggested that it would be useful to examine whether this was actually the case, in respect to wind farms in particular. As researchers we were also interested in the broader question of why non-submitters might not be participating in formal planning processes, so we developed our research to address two questions: (a) how do non-submitters’ perspectives of proposed wind farms differ from those of submitters; and (b) why do nonsubmitters not make submissions?

scholarly journals Minimising Community Opposition to Wind Farm Developments in New Zealand: Opportunities in Renewable Energy Planning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christian Berg
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Community Consultation ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Public Opposition

<p>The erection of wind turbines, depending on their location, could significantly interfere with appreciated landscape values of a community, and consequently lead to its objection to a proposed wind energy project. This study explores possible options, which can be applied within the community consultation process to reduce the likelihood of substantial public opposition to wind farm developments in New Zealand. The research topic was chosen to support wind farm planners and decision makers in the consultation process for wind farm developments in order to increase public acceptance of a proposed project, to evaluate possibilities of benefit sharing and public involvement, to select the most appropriate level of community participation in the planning process and consequently to enhance the ability in gaining resource consent under the Resource Management Act 1991. The investigation covers the sequential development of public attitudes towards wind farms, the wider spectrum of public opposition, including vocalised reasons and hidden arguments, community consultation approaches and the different levels of public involvement. The applied methodology for this research comprises a case study approach concerning a New Zealand wind farm including an analysis of submissions made into the resource consent process, follow-up interviews with affected stakeholders, an interview with a wind farm developer, and a comprehensive text analysis. There are various opportunities to increase acceptance of wind farms including aesthetical design, sensitive siting, a pro-active approach, stakeholder analysis, participation and community ownership schemes. The results also demonstrate that increased community involvement may potentially satisfy consulted stakeholders, but could jeopardise obtaining resource consent under the current planning regime.</p>

scholarly journals Minimising Community Opposition to Wind Farm Developments in New Zealand: Opportunities in Renewable Energy Planning

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Thesis Depositor
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Community Consultation ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Public Opposition

<p>The erection of wind turbines, depending on their location, could significantly interfere with appreciated landscape values of a community, and consequently lead to its objection to a proposed wind energy project. This study explores possible options, which can be applied within the community consultation process to reduce the likelihood of substantial public opposition to wind farm developments in New Zealand. The research topic was chosen to support wind farm planners and decision makers in the consultation process for wind farm developments in order to increase public acceptance of a proposed project, to evaluate possibilities of benefit sharing and public involvement, to select the most appropriate level of community participation in the planning process and consequently to enhance the ability in gaining resource consent under the Resource Management Act 1991. The investigation covers the sequential development of public attitudes towards wind farms, the wider spectrum of public opposition, including vocalised reasons and hidden arguments, community consultation approaches and the different levels of public involvement. The applied methodology for this research comprises a case study approach concerning a New Zealand wind farm including an analysis of submissions made into the resource consent process, follow-up interviews with affected stakeholders, an interview with a wind farm developer, and a comprehensive text analysis. There are various opportunities to increase acceptance of wind farms including aesthetical design, sensitive siting, a pro-active approach, stakeholder analysis, participation and community ownership schemes. The results also demonstrate that increased community involvement may potentially satisfy consulted stakeholders, but could jeopardise obtaining resource consent under the current planning regime.</p>

scholarly journals Obstacles and Obligations: Wind Energy and Migratory Bird Protection in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Symone Krimowa
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
International Obligations ◽  
Biodiversity Convention

<p>Wind farms create unique risks to birds because of the danger of the turbine blades, which can be up to 150 meters tall. Placement of wind farms in the wrong areas can have a detrimental impact on bird species. New Zealand’s commitment to renewable energy is shared with its obligations to protect biodiversity, which are reflected in the ratification of international conventions such as the Convention on Migratory Species and the Biodiversity Convention. Domestic legislation, such as the Resource Management Act 1991, seeks to enhance the development of alternative sources of energy with the intention of reducing the effects of climate change on the environment and conserving indigenous biodiversity. Migratory bird protection in the wind farm context in New Zealand relies upon environmental impact assessment under Schedule 4 of the Resource Management Act 1991. International obligations include protecting or endeavouring to protect 37 migratory bird species along their complete flight paths. The Resource Management Act 1991 does not meet international obligations to protect migratory birds in the wind farm consent process because (1) the assessment of environmental effects process fails to adequately identify effects on migratory birds; and (2) even if the assessment of environmental effects process adequately identifies effects on migratory birds, the RMA fails to give priority weight to effects on birds when it balances those effects with other factors in deciding to approve the wind farm application. Other countries provide guidance on the next steps for New Zealand to take to comply with its international obligations to migratory birds.</p>

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