Climate Risk Potential for New Zealand Hydropower

With climate change set to bring more severe and frequent storms to some parts of the world and an increased risk of drought to others, for countries like New Zealand which relies on hydropower, what are the risks? Katie Kouchakji examines the prospects and responses for industry news platform, Energy Monitor.

Like all power sources, there are challenges associated with hydropower, Kouchakji writes. The threats posed by climate change are already being felt.

Sydney-based director of Climate Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, sees a small but important role for gas for the next 10 or 20 years, to provide that flexibility to meet peak demand. Buckley has been working on New Zealand’s electricity system for the past year, which is already dominated by renewables – averaging 82 per cent last year, including 56 per cent from hydropower.

“Jacinda Ardern is trying to take a global leadership role, but when you look at the practicality of being so reliant on hydro, it’s opened my eyes to the enormous problems that that entails because of the risk of drought,” Buckley says.

Original article by Katie Kouchakji, Energy Monitor, April 13, 2022.