Renewable energy

Over 80 percent of the electricity generated in Aotearoa NZ comes from renewable sources – wind, sun and water. Understanding the effects of our changing climate on our hydro lakes and wind and solar generation potential will help us increase renewable energy generation.

Solar farm

Nowcasting and short-to-medium range forecasting for solar and wind energy

Scaling up of solar and wind power is essential for Aotearoa New Zealand to become carbon neutral by 2050

Renewable energy

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    Solar farm

    Nowcasting and short-to-medium range forecasting for solar and wind energy

    Research Project
    Scaling up of solar and wind power is essential for Aotearoa New Zealand to become carbon neutral by 2050
    Weather forecasting
    Renewable energy

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    Better runoff and hazard predictions through national-scale snowmelt forecasting

    Research Project
    Developing a snowmelt forecast system to enable more accurate and confident forecasts of river flow and alpine hazards.
    Hydrology and flow
    Weather hazards
    Renewable energy

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    Mt Butler

    Snowline survey reveals continued shrinkage of NZ glaciers

    Media release
    25 March 2024
    New Zealand’s glaciers appear "smashed and shattered" due to enduring ice loss, says NIWA.
    Climate change
    Renewable energy

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    Electricity conversion project takes top prize at Auckland Science Fair

    Media release
    23 October 2023
    A suite of projects that ranged from whether toothpaste’s a scam to capturing air, to human superpowers made up the 206 entries at this year’s NIWA Auckland City Science & Technology Fair.
    Renewable energy

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    Wellington storm waves

    Weather and climate forecasting services

    Whether you need weather or climate information six hours, days or months out, our accurate forecasts can help you with operational requirements and decision making.
    Climate and weather
    Weather forecasting
    Renewable energy

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    Sunrise from Brooklyn Hill

    SolarView

    This calculator estimates the solar energy that can be collected by a solar capture device (solar panel) at a given address, panel direction and roof slope.
    Renewable energy

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    Extreme weather research gets a boost

    Media release
    21 August 2023
    NIWA has launched a $5 million per year package of new projects aiming to tackle some of New Zealand’s most pressing challenges, including responding to and preparing for extreme weather events.
    Hazards
    Floods
    Climate change

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    Impact of new energy efficient streetlights on insects revealed

    Media release
    28 September 2022
    New energy efficient streetlights are playing a major role in influencing insect behaviour, says NIWA.
    Freshwater
    Renewable energy

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    NZWaM - Hydro: Our partners

    The NZWaM – Hydro project is led by NIWA but all work is conducted in collaboration with our project partners.
    NZ water model
    Hydrology and flow
    Renewable energy

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    Lake Tekapo study raises awareness of tsunamis in NZ lakes

    Media release
    12 June 2018
    A pilot project has provided the most advanced mapping of a New Zealand lake ever and highlights the hazard to lakeside towns of tsunamis caused by landslides.
    Renewable energy

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    SolarView help

    This calculator estimates the solar energy that can be collected by a solar capture device (solar panel) at a given address, panel direction and roof slope.

  • Link to source page

    Hydro

    Hydro-electricity is a renewable energy source that relies on the inflow of water into storage lakes upstream of a dam.
    Renewable energy