Renewable power generation up in New Zealand

The proportion of New Zealand' s electricity generated from renewable sources last year was the highest in almost two decades, according to a government figures out Thursday.

"At almost 80 percent, the share of renewable electricity generation in 2014 was the highest since 1996," Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment manager of modelling and sector trends Bryan Field said in a statement.

"Geothermal electricity generation contributed more electricity than natural gas during 2014, this is the first time that this has happened in 40 years."

Electricity demand for last year was 1.3 percent higher than in 2013.

"Electricity demand during the December quarter 2014 was 3.6 percent higher than in the December quarter 2013. This was largely due to increased irrigation demand as a result of the very dry weather in parts of the country," Field said.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said the proportion of renewable power was up from 75.1 percent in 2013.

During much of the previous decade the share of renewable electricity generation was in the 60-percent to 70-percent range, before beginning to climb in 2009.

"So the overall trend is very positive and shows we're making strong progress towards our ambitious goal of having 90 percent of New Zealand's electricity supply generated by renewables by 2025," Bridges said in a statement.

"These figures are a reminder of the renewable advantage New Zealand enjoys as a result of our abundant energy resources," he said.

"New Zealand's share of renewable electricity generation is the fourth largest in the world." Endi