By Lynne Richardson
Although the current economic outlook may be gloomy, smart businesses can reduce their operating costs by more prudent use of energy.
With rising overheads and falling margins, energy consumption is one of the large variable costs that a business can easily manage and reduce – and there’s no shortage of resources out there for those looking for guidance.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) was established as a Crown entity in 2000 by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, and is the main agency responsible for helping to deliver the government’s extensive energy efficiency agenda. Its function is to encourage, promote and support energy efficiency, energy conservation and the use of renewable energy sources by changing the way New Zealanders think about and use energy.
 Energy in New Zealand
Renewable energy has many advantages – it’s free to use, it won’t run out and it doesn’t contribute to climate change. More than half (55 percent) of our electricity is generated by hydroelectric systems, with around a third coming from gas or coal. There is also some wind generation and electricity generated by geothermal sources, as well as a small amount from woody biomass.
Nearly all our modes of transport rely on fossil fuels (exceptions being electric trains and buses) and renewable transport fuels are expected to find their way into niche markets over the coming years – small amounts of biodiesel are currently in use now.
EECA says that renewable energy resources have a major role to play in meeting our demand for energy, and works to remove the barriers and provide information to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in New Zealand.
Thar she blows!
New Zealand has one of the best wind resources in the world. Wind energy has the potential to generate more than 2500 megawatts of electricity – enough for over one million homes – and is one of the fastest forms of electricity generation to build. There is plenty of scope to develop it further.
In addition, our energetic coastal environment is also a world-class resource for energy conservation. International research and development are underway, devising technologies to extract energy from our waves and tides, and it is believed that such technologies could play an important role in New Zealand’s future energy supply portfolio.
Soak up the sun
However, it is solar energy that businesses are making best use of at the moment. New Zealand has excellent potential to generate solar electricity. On average, we have about 2000 hours of bright sunshine each year, generating a solar energy resource of approximately 4 kilowatts/m2 per day. Many businesses have already realised the savings available from solar energy by installing a photovoltaic system (a PV or solar electric system) which converts radiant energy from the sun directly into electricity.
PV systems have a number of benefits – they are silent, consume no fuel, generate no pollution, and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A typical system can be installed in stages, and requires very little maintenance over its lifespan.
In New Zealand, PV systems are used extensively to power a range of equipment such as communications equipment, water pumps, lights on navigational buoys and electric fences on farms. Larger systems are used in homes, farms, public buildings, petrol stations and lighthouses in remote areas.
BP New Zealand has a number of service stations around the country that have solar panels installed on the canopy roof. The energy generated is used to power the pumps and lights at each station.
 Auckland Airport’s new pier built to handle the A380 double-decker planes has a number of energy-saving features. The sun’s energy will help light the pier through 160m2 of solar panels on the pier’s roof, which are expected to produce 29,000 kilowatts every year – enough to power the corridor lights connecting the new pier with the international terminal. The washrooms have hot water that has been pre-heated using 40m2 of solar panels. This is expected to save 15,000 kilowatts per year. In addition, rainwater is collected and piped to a reclaim tank farm where it will be recycled for use in the air-conditioning cooling towers. Fresh water usage has been reduced through the use of low-flow fittings in the washrooms.
Renewable energy – the way to go
SEANZ – the Sustainable Electricity Association of New Zealand (www.seanz.org.nz) – promotes and supports the increased use of photovoltaics, small wind and small hydro systems as reliable, sustainable and clean sources of energy, and works in association with EECA to help develop the small-scale renewable energy industry in New Zealand.
It says renewable energy systems are the future for residential and commercial developments in New Zealand, and hopes we will follow the UK which last year enacted the Planning and Energy Act which enables local planning authorities to enforce requirements for developers to include renewable energy systems within new buildings. Such systems could include wind turbines, solar panels, heat pumps and biomass systems, and local authorities will be free to require whatever level of renewable energy generation they deem necessary, though it is expected that a 10–15 percent level could be common.
Want to get started on reducing your annual spend on electricity? Visit the EECA business website for further information: www.eecabusiness.govt.nz/emprove
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FTD poll results
A poll that ran on our website asked FTD readers to comment on new options for energy, and returned the following results:
- 82 percent said they haven’t yet started to trial (or use) alternative fuels
- 24 percent said they were planning to trial alternative fuels this year
- Of those who said they weren’t, 46 percent said it was because alternative fuels are not yet available, and a further 23 percent said they were too expensive
- 88 percent do not as yet use solar or wind power
- 65 percent think there is the potential to use solar, wind or wave for power generation in their building in the next five years.
Thanks to everyone who voted! |
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