New Zealand's bioenergy research
New Zealand’s bioenergy research
Wood pellets made from sawdust or shavings can be used for domestic heating or by larger energy consumers, such as hospitals, schools, and hotels.
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Biofuel testing at CRL Energy
Biofuel testing at CRL Energy
Combustion testing of potential biofuels
A biofuel boiler all fired up. (Photo: Andrew Campbell, CRL Energy)
CRL Energy’s 50 kW-scale Combustion Test Rig is the only one of its kind in New Zealand. It has proven ideal for testing the performance of a range of solid fuels under conditions typically found in larger scale industrial boilers. We’ve tested everything from wood, coal, and biomass, to sludge, wastes, and even tyres.
To date, almost 200 tests have been performed for a range of clients from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Bioenergy: where to now?
Bioenergy: where to now?
Increasingly, liquid biofuels are being seen as a potential energy product from biomass to supplement traditional transport fuels. This has promoted much research into so-called ‘second generation’ conversion technologies. Scion, for example, is working with the Lake Taupo Development Company on the assessment of willow as a potential feedstock for ethanol production.
Pure hydrogen stream on track
Pure hydrogen stream on track
Scientists at CRL Energy are well on their way to producing high purity hydrogen from New Zealand lignite.
Managing New Zealand's Energy Under Stormy Skies
Phenomena such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle and the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) have significant effects on New Zealand rainfall, temperature, wind, and solar radiation, as will human-induced climate change.
Investigating Future Energy: Hydrogen
Investigating Future Energy: Hydrogen
CRL Energy’s fluidised bed gasifier, used for hydrogen energy research. [Photos: Alan Blacklock, NIWA]
Hydrogen is one attractive option in the search for clean, secure energy, especially for transport. Imagine running a car which emits only water vapour – no lung irritants, no carcinogens, no toxic gases.
Carbon storage presentation wins award
Carbon storage presentation wins award
Dr Tony Clemens
Dr Tony Clemens, Research Manager at CRL Energy, won the top award for his presentation at the 23rd International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, beating over 300 other papers at the world’s premier event for work on new and innovative coal-based technologies.
Tony’s paper described work using the synchrotron at Argonne National Laboratories (Chicago) to directly observe interactions occurring when CO2 is stored in deep geological formations.
Wave energy device under development
Wave energy device under development
NIWA has deployed this wave rider buoy off Hokianga to collect data on a potential location for testing the prototype wave energy device outside the lab.
NIWA is part of a collaborative R&D project which aims to develop, test, and deploy a proof-of-concept wave energy converter in New Zealand by 2008. The other partners are Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) and Power Projects Ltd.
Most wave energy devices developed to date are large and extract only a small proportion of the total energy in each passing wave.
Towards energy-efficient buildings
Towards energy-efficient buildings
Climate datasets provide essential information for designing more energy-efficient buildings, making the most of passive solar energy, positioning of photovoltaic panels, and even designing other micro-generation options (such as household-scale wind turbines).
NIWA recently completed a dataset of a 'typical meteorological year' for the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority. These synthetic data are created by constructing a typical January, typical February, and so on, for New Zealand regions.
CRL Energy joins national centre
CRL Energy joins national centre
Dr Rob Whitney, Chief Executive of CRL Energy, is now leading the National Centre for Climate–Energy Solutions
Research already underway includes CRL Energy's work on coal gasification for hydrogen energy systems (pictured here) and NIWA's involvement in the development of a wave energy converter. [Photo: CRLEnergyLtd]
The National Centre for Climate–Energy Solutions is expanding into a joint enterprise between NIWA and CRL Energy.
Dr Rob Whitney, Chief Executive of CRL Energy, is now leading the centre.
Wave energy device under development
Wave energy device under development
2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
NIWA’s Greta Point campus is now the proud owner of this 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. It’s mostly used for city driving when public transport is not a realistic option. At 4.6 litres per 100 km, the hybrid provides better fuel economy as well as lower emissions than our petrol-only vehicles. We still need station wagons and off-road vehicles for field trips and transporting scientific equipment, but we hope the hybrid options will expand as our other vehicles come up for replacement.
How will future climate affect hydro storage?
How will future climate affect hydro storage?
A switch in a long-term climate cycle may signal a 20–30 year stretch of more frequent dry years
Annual flows recorded for the Clutha River at Balclutha, 1 October 1947–30 September 1999. The mean flow is substantially higher during the recent positive phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation.
Brisbane vehicle emissions tested
Brisbane vehicle emissions tested
Auckland vehicles, Wellington vehicles, and now Brisbane vehicles: we have measured exhaust pollution from tens of thousands of vehicles.
Last month, Lou Reddish of NIWA spent five days monitoring vehicle emissions in Brisbane for Queensland Transport. We operated at three sites: two have high traffic volumes with a good mix of privately-owned and commercial vehicles; the third site leads to an industrial area with light-commercial, diesel traffic.
How's the air?
How's the air?
[Photo: Craig Salmon, Nelson City Council.]
NIWA is installing new meteorological monitoring stations in Nelson City and the Tasman district as part of an air quality initiative.
The Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council have identified air quality as an issue for their region.
Wellington vehicles put to the test
Wellington vehicles put to the test
NIWA tested the exhaust quality of nearly one car a minute during a public open day at Wellington’s Westpac stadium last month.
Our remote sensing equipment uses beams of light to measure pollutants in the vehicle exhaust, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates. Drivers get immediate feedback on their vehicle emissions with the words ‘good’, ‘fair’, or ‘poor’ flashing up on an electronic display board.
Preparing for renewable marine energy
Preparing for renewable marine energy
Technology for New Zealand conditions
Development effort worldwide is moving wave and tidal energy from wishful thinking into a valuable contribution to energy supply.
Computer modelling and remote sensing are both vital, but they must be underpinned by in situ measurements. Bathymetric, current, and wave data are all needed to help define where it might be economic to install wave and tidal energy devices, and how to minimise environmental effects.
Major advance for clean energy research
Major advance for clean energy research
NIWA buys 50% stake in CRL Energy
Research into secure, clean, internationally competitive energy solutions has just been given a major boost with NIWA’s investment in CRL Energy Ltd. The other 50% shareholding is retained by the Coal Association of New Zealand.
"We are delighted to become partners with the Coal Association in CRL Energy," says NIWA chief executive Dr Rick Pridmore.
Hydro lakes likely to stay low
NIWA predicts only a one-in-five chance of above normal inflows
New Zealand daily storage (last updated Monday 10 April 06)
New Zealand’s total hydroelectric lake storage is still in a lower than normal position for this time of year, based on M-co updates (www.comitfree.co.nz) and NIWA monitoring. This is a cause for concern as winter approaches.
Smart rainfall model varies season length
Smart rainfall model varies season length
As part of the Climate-related Risks for Energy Supply and Demand research programme, NIWA is developing a tool to generate realistic synthetic rainfall time series. We all know that rainfall varies seasonally, and that the seasons don't align with an artificial pattern of three months per season per year.
Nitrous oxide in the paddock
Nitrous oxide in the paddock
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas accounting for about 20% of New Zealand’s current inventory of 'Kyoto emissions'.
Roughly half of New Zealand’s N2O emissions come from the breakdown of cattle excreta and another 15% from nitrogen fertiliser. The emissions have increased by about 30% between 1990 and 2003.
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