Energy in New Zealand

New Zealand primary energy supply 2018[1]

Despite abundant natural resources and a relatively small population, New Zealand is a net importer of energy, in the form of petroleum products. The ratio of non-renewable and renewable energy sources was fairly consistent from 1975 to 2008, with about 70 per cent of primary energy supply coming from hydrocarbon fuels. This ratio decreased to about 60 per cent in 2018.[1] The proportion of non-renewable energy varies annually, depending on water flows into hydro-electricity lakes and demand for energy.[2] In 2018, approximately 60% of primary energy was from non-renewable hydrocarbon fuels and 40% was from renewable sources.[1] In 2007 energy consumption per capita was 120 gigajoules. Per capita energy consumption had increased 8 per cent since 1998. New Zealand uses more energy per capita than 17 of 30 OECD countries.[3] New Zealand is one of 13 OECD countries that does not operate nuclear power stations.

From 1994 to 2018, the energy intensity of the economy per unit of GDP declined by 33 per cent to 2.57 MJ/$.[1] A contributing factor is the growth of relatively less energy-intensive service industries.[4][5]

  1. ^ a b c d "Energy in New Zealand". MBIE. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^ MfE (December 2007). "Chapter 5 Energy Current pressures and trends". Environment New Zealand 2007. ME 847. Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry for the Environment. ISBN 978-0-478-30191-5. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  3. ^ MfE (July 2009). "Environmental Report Card Energy Supply and Demand". INFO 421. Ministry for the Environment. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Key Findings on New Zealand's Progress Using a Sustainable Development Approach". Statistics New Zealand. 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Energy in New Zealand". MBIE. August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2015.