Renewable Resources

 

Hydro

Hydro power is the most important and widely used renewable energy resource in the world.

Hydro schemes provide a predictable, reliable and flexible source of power. They respond within seconds to a change in load – meaning they can be started, stopped or adjusted to meet consumer demand. This makes hydro power a perfect complement to wind generation.

Hydro schemes are also non-polluting – they do not require fossil fuels to run, avoiding problems associated with the rising cost of fuel and protecting our environment from unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.

When people think of hydro projects, they often think of huge dams with serious consequences on the natural environment. MainPower is investigating small scale, minimal impact projects that do not require large dams or substantial civil works.

Hydro generation does not consume water, it just removes the energy from it, leaving our precious water resources available for other users.

Click here to read FAQs on hydro power.

Wind

New Zealand has one of the best wind energy resources in the world. We think our region, nestled between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean, has real potential to harness its wind energy too.

Wind makes up just two percent of the country’s electricity production now but its potential is enormous. Predictions are that wind could eventually supply 20 percent of New Zealand’s electricity needs.

The attraction of wind is easy to see. Its sheer abundance coupled with recent improvements in turbine technology makes wind the most cost effective form of new generation available in New Zealand.

But what sets wind apart from most other forms of generation is the minimal impact it has on the environment. Unlike fossil fuels wind power does not emit greenhouse gases. A decommissioned wind farm leaves no environmental footprint.

The wind blows, the turbines turn and electricity is generated. No smoke, no chimneys.

Click here to read FAQs on wind power.

Solar

Many parts of North Canterbury and Kaikoura have a similar solar resource to the southern states of Australia and about 50 percent greater than that of Germany - currently the world leader in installed solar generation.

Solar generation is perhaps the least intrusive and least complicated of all the renewable technologies. There are no moving parts and once installed there is little maintenance required over the long life of the panels.

Solar generation is not new to MainPower. We have been involved in solar generation since 1998 when we installed what was then New Zealand’s largest array of solar panels on Rangiora High School.

MainPower wants to keep up with developments in the technology so that when costs come down we are ready to help the community install solar generation.

We have installed solar panels on our own building in Rangiora and have installed similar technology for some local community groups including the Oxford Fire Station, the St John Ambulance depot in Culverden and Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura.

Click here to read FAQs on solar power.

Micro Generation

Many people now believe that the future of electricity generation is at the micro scale where individual households or businesses generate their own power, with the electricity network providing a backup and allowing the ability to import or export power to the grid.

MainPower is committed to supporting developments of this type in our region. We have a number of pilot projects underway, including micro hydro, micro wind and solar projects.

Click here to read FAQs on micro generation.