Local Energy Generation Overview Current energy sources, distribution lines and methods of extraction will come under extreme pressure. High demand will lead to great price fluctuations in the foreseeable future. Security of supply, availability of renewable resources and cost-effective generation will become increasingly important on the global stage, impacting on NZ and on Rotorua. Rotorua is rich in natural resources such as the geothermal field and renewable bio-energy resources such as waste wood. These natural resources are backed up by excellent research and development capabilities at the Crown Research Institute, Scion. This combination presents an opportunity for Rotorua to investigate ways to generate local energy which could be used to mitigate the risk of major national energy shortages as well as present us with a global competitive advantage of security of supply of energy for both business and living. Workshop summary The local energy generation workshop, led by BrightEconomy Board member Neville Nicholson, heard that rising energy demand forecasts, coupled with lagging investment in infrastructure, make Rotorua vulnerable to energy shortages and insecure supply systems. On the other hand, geothermal, water and biomass resources, particularly from waste wood, offer the prospect of a high level of locally generated energy based on renewable resources. John Gifford, Manager of the Sustainable Consumer Products group at Scion, outlined the possibility of a 100% renewable energy scenario for Rotorua if a range of generation methods were developed in sync – biomass, geothermal, solar, landfill gas, hydro and wind. Workshop participants discussed the major barriers and issues and the major opportunities they saw for local energy generation in Rotorua. In summary, they saw many opportunities for the district to become self-sufficient by using renewable generation resources. They identified a great need for leadership and an organised framework to move forward. To download local energy generation workshop details, click below Forum Local Energy Presentation Forum Local Energy Notes The way forward The BrightEconomy Board is working to complete a local energy study by March 2007. The Board has good information on patterns of local use and is gathering data on generation opportunities in the district, the comparative advantages of the various opportunities and their respective efficiency in the local environment.     Research Project - Tenders were received and assessed for a project to examine the practical opportunities around the current position of local energy supply, generation and utilisation. The successful tender was a partnership between East Harbour Management Services and Scion. An initial workshop was held on 13 December 2006 to present some of the alternatives being looked at as well as to discuss methodology of the project with interested parties. The full content of the presentation can be downloaded below.  Local Energy Presentation Dec 13 workshop  The final report will be completed by Feb 2007. The final report was presented at a workshop held on Jul 2007  Based on five threads: Reducing business costs Warm and Healthy homes Research and Innovation Trades training Energy Champion Rotorua Energy Association Download presentation from the workshop is here >> Presentation Energy Assessment 05 June 07  A download of the Full report is available here >>Energy Report Full Context  A summarised version of the report is available here >>Energy Report    Proposed Upper Kaituna Hydroelectric Power Scheme Bay of Plenty Electricity is proposing the building of a Hydroelectric Power Station on the Upper Kaituna (NOTE: this scheme will not affect the river above, or the fishing in, the trout pools) The first stage of the process is to gain a D.O.C. concession over a small parcel of scenic reserve. The granting of this concession is a requirement prior to the formal resource management application. The concession has been approved in principle subject to community consultation.