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Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch is a journalist, videographer and content producer, broadcasting from his independent news and production company in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Meridian Energy has welcomed a final Environment Court decision allowing the Waitaki Power Scheme to operate for another 35 years.
The scheme is New Zealand’s largest hydroelectricity power scheme and plays a major role in the country’s electricity supply.
It includes six power stations and has an installed capacity of 1,553 megawatts, making up almost 30 per cent of New Zealand’s installed hydro capacity.
Meridian said the decision means it can keep the scheme’s current storage, operating conditions and generation capacity.
Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan said, “The Waitaki Power Scheme has long been the backbone of New Zealand’s electricity system, and changing the way that it operates would have had enormous impacts for every New Zealander.”
“Hydro generation is the cheapest and cleanest firming solution for New Zealand’s electricity system and knowing we can continue to operate Waitaki for another 35 years provides certainty to our business, the electricity system and the economy.
“It also means we can step up the work we’re doing to explore opportunities to add more storage and generation to this scheme,” Roan said.
Meridian said it would immediately implement the new consents.
The consents include a significant increase in indigenous biodiversity management in the catchment, delivered through the Department of Conservation.
This article was originally published by Chris Lynch Media.
