#1
New Zealand’s primary energy supply 2020
New Zealand’s primary energy supply is the sum total of all the country’s energy supply. This includes electricity, but also includes all transport and industrial fuels and anything else used to supply energy across all sectors.
The figure of 7% for the percentage of energy supplied in New Zealand from wood based fuels comes from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s energy balances and its information for the 2020 year.
A spreadsheet containing the information of New Zealand’s energy balances back to 1990 indicates the 7% figure given in the article. The spreadsheet is hosted on this page, and can be downloaded directly by clicking here.
#2
New Zealand’s primary energy supply (graph data)
This graph is based on Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment information for the 2020 year. The percentages shown in the graph are derived from information given in the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s energy balance spreadsheets.
The spreadsheet is laid out in Microsoft Excel format, and is hosted on this page. The spreadsheet can be downloaded directly by clicking here.
#3
New Zealand’s primary energy supply from biogas, waste heat, solar, and liquid biofuels
The figure of 0.64% is based on Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment information for the 2020 year.
This is derived from information given in the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s energy balance spreadsheets.
The spreadsheet is laid out in Microsoft Excel format, and is hosted on this page. The spreadsheet can be downloaded directly by clicking here.
#4
Coal’s contribution to primary energy supply in 2016
This is based on Ministry on Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment information for the 2016 year, outlined in the 2017 edition of Energy in New Zealand.
The balance sheet on pages 12 and 13 indicates coal in the 2016 year accounted for 52.09 petajoules out of a total of primary energy supply of 907.68 petajoules – or 5.70%.
The report can b found in full here.
#5
New Zealand’s annual use of wood fuels
This is based on Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment information for the 2020 year, laid out in spreadsheets on the ministry’s website.
The spreadsheet is laid out in Microsoft Excel format, and is hosted on this page. The spreadsheet can be downloaded directly by clicking here.
#6
Wood fuels largely used in timber processing
In 2017 the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment prepared a series of factsheets on process heat in the industrial sector.
On page 3 of an overview factsheet, the document states almost all bioenergy is used in the wood, pulp and paper manufacturing sector.
This factsheet is available here.
#7
Forecast fall in available biomass residues
In 2017 Crown research institute, Scion, published a report on biomass residues around New Zealand.
This report looks at forecast biomass supply out to 2042, and indicates the availability of resides will peak in 2022, and fall from then on. The information on available in-forest residues in the coming decades is available on from 45 of report, which is available in full here.
#8
Historic planting rates
The Ministry for Primary Industries prepares an annual National Exotic Forest Description report.
On page 15 of the report, information of recent and historic annual planting rates by hectare are shown. The graph, and supporting information are available on pages 15 and 16 respectively. The full report is available here.
#9
Breakdown of forecast South Island biomass residues
In 2017 Crown research institute, Scion, published a report on biomass residues around New Zealand.
The outline of South Island residues by region is based on information sourced from page 47 of the report.
The report is available in full here.
#10
Cost of delivered energy from electricity versus coal and gas
The Climate Change Commission sought feedback from the New Zealand public in early 2020 on its draft advice to the government for reducing New Zealand’s emissions.
In one of its pieces of supporting evidence, the commission noted the cost of delivered energy is three to five times the cost of coal or gas at current carbon prices.
This information can be found on page 6 of the relevant supporting evidence document, which is available here.
#11
Competition for biomass means first come first served
In 2017 Crown research institute, Scion, published a report on biomass residues around New Zealand.
On page 42 of the report, it is noted that the price of wood fuels will only increase as demand increases as more customers enter the market.
The report is available in full here.
#12
Bulk of wood fuels used in New Zealand are used in the wood processing sector
In 2017 the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment prepared a series of factsheets on process heat in the industrial sector.
On page 3 of an overview factsheet, the document states almost all bioenergy is used in the wood, pulp and paper manufacturing sector.
This factsheet is available here.
#13
Fonterra rules out electrification of its process heat
In its submission on the Climate Change Commission’s draft advice, Fonterra explains that based on previous feasibility studies, it has decided not to electrify its process heat due to the high cost. This is stated on page 11 of Fonterra’s submission, which is available in full here.
#14
Fonterra’s use of coal and wood at Brightwater
In late 2018 Fonterra began cofiring its Brightwater plant on coal and biomass to reduce coal use. The emissions reduction achieved is said to be 25%. Because wood fuel is considered to be carbon neutral coal would be the only source of emissions. This being the case, 75% of coal emissions and coal use persist at the plant.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s website gives information on this conversion, which can be found here.
#15
Brightwater accounts for 1.7% of Fonterra’s energy use
This is based on analysis of Fonterra’s energy profile, which is outlined by the cooperative on page 10 of its submission to the Climate Change Commission. This submission is available in full here.
Brightwater’s energy demand is listed as 7MW, which is about 1.7% of the total 410 MW derived from the combined total of all the cooperative’s plant network.
#16
Milk supplier is across the road
The BioEnergy Association’s website lists Azwood Energy as the biofuel supplier for Brightwater plant, and Google Maps shows the two sites to be about ten metres apart.
#17
Fonterra switches from coal to wood pellets at Te Awamutu plant
Fonterra announced in September 2020 that it had begun using wood pellets at its Te Awamutu site. This was announced on a press release on Fonterra’s website, which can be found here.
#18
Te Awamutu conversion reductions in coal consumption and CO2 emissions
Fonterra says the conversion of the cooperative’s Te Awamutu site to pellets will reduce its use of coal by about 10% and reduce CO2 emissions by 84,000 tonnes. This information can be found on the company’s website.
#19
Increased mileage significantly adds to cost of biomass
In its submission to the Climate Change Commission, Fonterra noted one challenge with biomass is its location, given distance from source can add significant costs.
This comment and other information can be found on page 22 of the submission, which is available in full here.
#20
Concentration of exotic forests in North Island and central North Island
New Zealand’s exotic forest plantings are predominately in the North Island, particularly the central North Island.
This percentages of 72.5% of forests being in the North Island and a third in the central North Island are derived from pages 10 and 11 of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 2020 National Exotic Forest Description, which is available in full here.
#21
Moisture content of wood pellets
Wood pellet producer, Nature’s Flame, states on its website the moisture content of wood pellets is about 5-10%. This webpage is available here.
#22
Moisture content of wood chips
Wood pellet producer, Nature’s Flame, states on its website the moisture content of wood chips ranges from 25-80%. This webpage is available here.
#23
Nature’s Flame wood pellet production
In 2019 Nature’s Flame and Contact Energy announced a deal that had been made to utilise used geothermal energy at Nature’s Flame Taupo wood pellet plant.
The press release for this deal can be found here.
#24
Pellet conversion efficiency prior to Contact Energy geothermal deal
The press release announcing the deal between Contact Energy and Nature’s Flame notes prior to the deal, the wood pellet producer operated at only 45% efficiency, with Nature’s Flame burning wood fuels to dry the pellets.
The press release then explains that the supply of used waste geothermal heat to Nature’s Flame allowed the company to increase to 100% of capacity and eliminated the need to burn wood fuels to dry wood.
#25
Nature’s Flame annual pellet production
A document published by Contact Energy explaining the conversion lists Nature’s Flame’s annual production of wood pellets as 85,000 tonnes a year. This document can be found here.
#26
Te Awamutu’s pellet consumption
A New Zealand Herald article published in September 2020 states the annual wood pellet consumption of Te Awamutu is about 48,000 tonnes. This article can be found here.
#27
Planned date for Stirling conversion
Fonterra’s announced date for its conversion of its Otago cheese factory, Stirling, in July 2021. In a press release, Fonterra said it would be coal free by August 2022, by switching to biomass.
This press release can be found here.
#28
Stirling energy demand in the context of Fonterra’s companywide energy demand
This is based on analysis of Fonterra’s energy profile, which is outlined by the cooperative on page 10 of its submission to the Climate Change Commission. This submission is available in full here.
Stirling’s energy demand is listed as 11MW, which is about 2.6% of Fonterra’s energy needs in the South Island and 0.8% at a national level of the total 410 MW derived from the combined total of all the cooperative’s plant network.
#29
JS Ewers conversion to wood fuels
JS Ewers received funding from the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund to convert its remaining coal boilers to wood fuel. This information can be found on page 27 of Horticulture New Zealand’s submission on discussion document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat. The full submission can be found here.
#30
Hothouse grower found solar was not a feasible option
JS Ewers noted in Horticulture New Zealand’s submission on discussion document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat that it had looked at solar power, but this was not found to be feasible. This comment can be found on page 27 of the full submission, which can be found here.
#31
The economic range of wood chip for fuel considered to be about 100 kilometres
JS Ewers noted in Horticulture New Zealand’s submission on discussion document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat that for biomass to be economically viable as a fuel it needs to be sourced from within 100 kilometres. This comment can be found on page 27 of the full submission, which can be found here.
#32
Quantities of wood required to replace natural gas at South Auckland hothouse
One tomato and capsicum grower contributing to Horticulture New Zealand’s submission on discussion document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat, New Zealand Gourmet spoke to the quantities of wood required to heat the glasshouses instead of natural gas.
This can be found on page 27 of the full submission, which can be found here.
#33
Growers end up competing for small wood supply
One tomato and capsicum grower contributing to Horticulture New Zealand’s submission on discussion document Phasing out fossil fuels in process heat, New Zealand Gourmet spoke to the extent to which fuel users can end up competing for an insufficient supply of wood fuel.
This can be found on page 27 of the full submission, which can be found here.
