Hydro

Water is scarce in Canterbury- how can
we afford to use it for hydro-generation?

Generating power from water does not actually use any water and in many cases a power scheme can be integrated with other water uses, from anglers to irrigators. We are looking for schemes which assist in the sustainable management of Canterbury's water resources.

What are the benefits
of hydropower?

Hydropower enjoys several advantages over most other methods of generation.  These include a high level of reliability, proven technology, high efficiency, very low operating and maintenance costs, and the ability to easily adjust to demand changes. Also hydropower does not discharge pollutants or greenhouse gases. It is a renewable resource which saves the country from using oil, gas, and coal.

Compared with other sources of generation the development costs for hydro have the biggest local component and hence the greatest benefit to the local economy.  This is because every hydro scheme is built specifically to suit its local conditions.

What’s the advantage
of small hydro
schemes?

Simply, the environmental impact is less.  Small schemes are often designed to operate on a run-of-river basis avoiding the need for dams to store the water and hence avoiding the flooding of river valleys.

Small projects can be planned and built in a reasonably short time frame and can often be built to fit in with existing water uses.

Large dams do have benefits, because the ability to store water gives great flexibility in matching the supply with the demand for electricity.  Many people also enjoy the recreational opportunities on a hydro lake. But, most of the big hydro sites in New Zealand were developed by the government last century and the best opportunities today are seen in smaller scale developments.

What are the disadvantages of hydropower?

New Zealand has suffered a number of dry years in recent times, leading to electricity shortages because we rely on hydro so heavily. 

The schemes themselves can lead to changes in stream life because they affect fish, plants, and wildlife by changing stream levels, flow patterns, and temperature.  And of course, large scale hydro projects can mean wildlife habitat is inundated and people displaced. 

There can also be competition between hydro generation and other uses of water such as irrigation or even recreation.

There can also be competition between hydro generation and other uses of water such as irrigation or even recreation.