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New Zealands contribution to global geothermal development

New Zealands contribution to global geothermal development Pipes at Ngatamariki geothermal plant, New Zealand (source: Mighty River Power)
Alexander Richter 22 Apr 2015

New Zealand’s world-class geothermal expertise has been instrumental in geothermal projects around the globe, according to New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Australia, Stephen Blair.

The 200-strong New Zealand contingent at the World Geothermal Congress in Melbourne this week includes 17 companies showcasing their geothermal expertise.

“In fact there are more than 70 New Zealand companies with geothermal expertise spanning the entire value chain. There are few geothermal developments in the world where New Zealand companies have not played some part, either through providing services, or through training of country partners”, says Stephen Blair.

New Zealand is the fourth largest generator of geothermal power in the world, and geothermal contributed 16.2% of the country’s electricity last year.

“We now have 1010 MW of installed geothermal capacity – double the amount we had a decade ago.”

One of the key contributions New Zealand has made to the global geothermal community is through training. More than 1500 students from more than 50 counties are now leaders in the geothermal industry world-wide after having graduated from the world-class University of Auckland programme which has extensive involvement from across the geothermal industry.

Geothermal is a core focus of the current New Zealand Aid Programme in countries where there is potential geothermal resource such as Indonesia, the Caribbean, Africa and some parts of the Pacific, said Mr Blair.

New Zealand expertise and development assistance was formative in developing the geothermal industries in the Philippines and Indonesia, now the second and third largest geothermal energy producers in the world respectively.

In the Philippines, New Zealanders helped develop the Tongonan and Palinpinon fields in the 1970’s – the country’s first geothermal fields, said New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to the Philippines, Hernando Banal.

“Both sites are still operational today, providing a critical 112.5MW each to the country’s electricity supply.”

New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Indonesia, Tim Anderson, said renewable energy remains a priority for New Zealand’s relationship with Indonesia.

“New Zealand built the very first geothermal power station at Kamojang in the 1980’s and has recently committed $10.5m to a five-year programme of technical assistance for state owned Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), leveraging a US$300m World Bank loan for up-scaling geothermal production capacity by 150MW.”

In addition, NZ Crown Research Institute GNS Science is delivering a five-year geothermal energy training and teacher development activity at Indonesia’s University of Gadjah Mada. Over 100 people have been trained so far, said Mr Anderson.

Click here to find the recording of the press meeting held today with New Zealand’s Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon. Simon Bridges, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and other industry representatives via geothermalpress.com

For more information contact: Sarah Keenan NZTE Regional Marketing & Communications Manager Australia sarah.keenan@nzte.govt.nz ph +61 403 789 808 or Esther Harward NZTE Senior Communications Consultant esther.harward@nzte.govt.nz ph +64 21 836 235.

Source: Media Release by NZ Trade and Enterprise