Claim new scheme would reduce greenhouse gases

A new power scheme on the Waitaki River is one answer to reducing greenhouse gases and the consequent cost to New Zealand meeting Kyoto protocol obligations, according to evidence in the Environment Court yesterday.

The director of the Centre of Energy Research at Massey University, Professor of sustainable energy Ralph Sims, is recognised as one of New Zealand's foremost authorities in renewable energy and climate change.

He described the Meridian Energy north bank tunnel concept power scheme as "an innovative development" and "an excellent project" meeting climate change goals.

Prof Sims presented evidence for Meridian on the benefits of renewable energy projects such as the north bank scheme in mitigating climate change and meeting New Zealand's climate change objectives.

Increasing New Zealand's supply of renewable energy would help mitigate increasing emissions in the electricity sector.

"If opportunities are not taken to build renewable power stations at an appropriate rate, increasing electricity demand will force New Zealand to build large scale thermal generation plants," he said.

New Zealand would then incur the cost of greenhouse gas emissions for the lifetime of the thermal plants which could have been avoided by building renewable plants, he said.

However, an expert in renewable energy appearing for Dugald MacTavish, an interested party opposing the granting of consents, said demand side management (managing increasing consumption) was one answer to reducing the need to build new generation.

Director of the Canterbury University's Advanced Energy and Material Systems Laboratory, associate professor Susan Krumdieck, said that management could be aimed at improving living conditions, reducing industry and commercial financial burdens through rational pricing rather than spot market pricing, developing new businesses and other methods.

The north bank scheme represented "an irreversible change in the environment" that was not acceptable to "a significant number of local people" on environmental, sustainability and other bases.

Cross-examined by Meridian counsel Jo Appleyard, Dr Krumdieck defined "significant number of people" as Mr MacTavish and associates - "people in his group".