Energy security and efficiency
Canterbury's high-country lakes provide water storage capacity that can enable renewable energy generation technologies. Investigating hydro-power options, particularly where they have additional benefits or enable 'dual-use' of the water (e.g. in combination with farm irrigation), is encouraged. New irrigation infrastructure developments consider options for hydroelectric power generation and are designed to utilise the landscape to convey water under pressure where feasible. This can minimise the need for pumping and, as a result, improve energy efficiency.
Under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), goals were set to help make a difference to our environment and how natural resources are managed. Environment Canterbury reports on progress on behalf of CWMS partners. Here's how things are progressing against 2020 goals.
Energy security and efficiency
2020 goal: Generate at least 40-45% of the power used by irrigation in Canterbury from irrigation infrastructure (including multi-use hydro and irrigation systems) within Canterbury and other renewable on-farm sources.
Has this goal been met?
We do not have information to assess whether this goal has been met. This goal requires specific work to be undertaken that assesses the overall energy used or generated by infrastructure and measurements are expected at the individual farm or irrigation collective scale as industry practices become more sophisticated.
2020 goal: Maintain or increase Canterbury’s contribution to New Zealand’s security of electricity supply.
Has this goal been met?
Further assessment will be required to report on the productivity impact per unit of electricity per hectare. These sorts of measurements are expected at the individual farm or irrigation collective scale as industry practices become more sophisticated.
However, energy efficiency is being built into schemes where viable, including the substitution of groundwater for newly available surface water, which minimises the need for pumping. Many irrigation schemes have investigated options for hydroelectric power generation as part of their upgrade projects, although these options will only be developed if they are financially viable. Directly using energy accumulated through piped distribution systems to supply irrigation systems (e.g. pivots) is favoured over hydro-generation as the costs are lower and benefits greater to irrigators.
- Irrigation NZ and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) are working in partnership to improve irrigation energy-use efficiency. Evaluation of irrigation system design and management has proven there are significant gains in energy efficiency to be made, particularly through better irrigation management.
- Irrigation NZ will continue to progress strategic actions to improve efficiency and reliability of irrigation.
- Irrigation users and schemes will continue to seek improvements in energy efficiency of existing and new infrastructure.
- Environment Canterbury will continue to facilitate the development of a regional infrastructure solution that aligns with the new requirements of the Essential Freshwater package and the intentions of the CWMS targets.