freitasm:

 

Enough with quoting more than needed. 

 

Linuxluver:

I'm going solar to reduce my contribution to emissions and to reduce the need to dam the few rivers that aren't already dammed.

 

Linuxluver:
1. I'm not talking about reducing hydro. Where did the word reduce come from? It's always interesting to see people insert word and ideas the person they are responding to didn't use. What I am saying is we don't need the Waimea scheme....and there aren't many other locations left that would generate large-scale power without also causing major environmental disturbance and loss of land and its amenity value. Why do it, if you don't have to? That's a serious question because.......we don't have to.

 

I wasn't intending to imply, or trying to twist what you were saying. That you were saying that you want to see existing hydro schemes reduced or eliminated. My understanding though from your above quotes, is that you want to reduce the amount of new hydro generation that is being or will be constructed, and / or proposed for construction. Guessing in relation to the Wairau river? (If that is not the case, what exactly about hydro do you want to see reduced?) As your quotes do contain the word Reduce in relation to damming rivers.

Overall, I still think that we should build as much hydro generation as possible. (And of course build other renewable generation as well). Considering that there is currently 1805MW total of coal, gas and diesel generation that is available to the wholesale electricity market. There is also 277MW of Co-Generation available as well. That Co-gen will be mostly originally fossil fuel sourced energy. So at a minimum, at least 2000MW of new renewable generation needs to be constructed, to get rid of current fossil fuelled generation.

Sure, still build solar generation or get solar panels installed on your house. I already have solar hot water, And I want to also get solar PV and batteries installed on my house. So Im definitely not anti solar in general. Just anti giving subsidies to solar. But more solar should not be a reason to build less hydro generation.  Maybe if all fossil generation that is in daily use gets closed down, then it would be good to consider if more hydro is still needed. And there is no reason apart from money, that NZ can't construct both more hydro and solar.

Everyday that a proposed hydro, wind, or other renewable energy project, gets delayed from opening. Is another day when the electricity that would have been generated by that renewable generation. Instead has to be generated by fossil fuels. And more renewable generation means lower average wholesale electricity prices. Which in turn means that fossil fuels used for things like room heating, hot water heating, transport, various industrial heating processes etc. Are more likely to be converted to electricity generated from renewables. So the overall emissions reductions available from building lots more hydro and renewable generation. Is actually larger than the current total carbon emissions from electricity generation.

freitasm: If you're replying to the post immediately before yours then you don't even need to quote.

If I'm replying to any post I like to quote it so that others know which post I'm replying to.  If I'm replying to the post immediately before mine it's a good idea that others don't think I'm replying to a different post a few back.  But I ALWAYS trim the quote because it is very often containing a quote of a quote of a quote and I just don't see that it necessary to have all that in what I'm quoting.  A quick click & drag of the mouse to highlight what I don't need, tap 'delete' and it is done.

freitasm: If you're replying to the post immediately before yours then you don't even need to quote.

Fair enough....I'll try harder. It's good advice. :-) 

Yes double post..

The latest EECA funding round seems to indicate an election might be coming up soon. :-)

Highlights: 18 new fast chargers where they are needed most. 5 almost-as-fast chargers in the Far North. 50 street-side chargers around Wellington. 100 chargers and 100 electric cars to share in one package. PLUS: a trial to develop a replacement battery for Nissan LEAF Gen 1 cars.  

15 projects were approved (PDF), including several to part-fund the growth of the charging network in parts of the country where it is currently lacking.

They include:

1. Eastland Group gets $251,000 to help establish 3 fast chargers at Matawai (between Opotiki and Gisborne), Putorino / Kotemaori (halfway between Napier and Wairoa) ansd Wairoa.  Along with the fast charger already being installed in Gisborne, this will provide a solid path from Opotiki or Napier to Gisborne for even modest EVs. 

2. Wellington City Council gets $176,100 to support establishing up to 50 street-side charging points for people in residential areas where they can't charge from their residences. Places like apartments or streets with steep access and no driveways.

3. Northland Regional Concil get $149,125 to establish 5 "medium speed" (I'm told that's 25kw DC) chargers at Waipapa, Mangonui, Kaikohe, Houhora and Waitiki. This opens a path to Cape Reinga from Kawakawa where, currently, the northernmost fast charger is located. 

4. Horizon Networks gets $115,000 to assist in establishing 3 fast chargers at Opotiki (SH2 and SH35), Te Kaha (SH35) and Murupara (SH38).  This supports EV travel from Rotorua to the Eastern Bay of Plenty and to Gisborne.

5. Charge.Net get $140,000 to help establish 4 new fast chargers at Cromewell, Roxburgh, Lawrence and Waihola. This will enable EVs to reach Queenstown from Dunedin and from Christchurch (and points north and south) via Dunedin.

6. Charge.Net get $95,000 to help establich 3 new fast chargers at Winton, Lumsden and Garston, to enable EVs from Invercargill to reach Queenstown.

7. Charge.Net get $175,000 to help establish 5 new charging stations between Picton and Christchurch at Culverden, Harris Pipes (on Lewis Pass Road), Mauria Junction, Murchison and Motupiko. This will allow most EVs to use the alternate route along SH65 + SH7 between Picton and Christchurch.

Four more projects are supporting the use of heavy electric vehicles in a variety of roles.

Europcars gets money to help add 10 e-Golfs to their rental fleet.

"Yoogo" get $500,000 to help create a 100-vehicle battery-electric fleet of shared vehicles for commercial and private use. Plus 100 chargers.

NZ Post gets some money to help allow them to operate 'demo' courier vans that will be available to their courier drivers (contractors) to show them what's possible.

Of interest to people who own NIssan LEAFs, Bluecars have received $23,100 to help develop a "trial replacement battery pack" for Gen 1 NIssan LEAFs.

kingdragonfly: Of course what I'd like to see is subsidies for individuals buying electric vehicles

In particular I'd like Norway type subsidies, who also has a small population and has to import petroleum.

Why are two rental car firms getting money to buy electric vehicles: Europcars, Yoogo? NZ Post also seems debatable. It seems like public money for private gain.

The mass public would probably outcry on subsidies, as it supports only those that can afford a costly new car. They could offer an interest free loan to help ease that cost, and talk to dealers and come up with a bulk import, helped by Govt as regards holding costs, the aim to giving EV a push and a bulk discount. None of this 1 in 3 by 2021, every Govt and local Govt car that is compatible with EV gets an EV.

kingdragonfly: Of course what I'd like to see is subsidies for individuals buying electric vehicles

In particular I'd like Norway type subsidies, who also has a small population and has to import petroleum.

Why are two rental car firms getting money to buy electric vehicles: Europcars, Yoogo? NZ Post also seems debatable. It seems like public money for private gain.

And rental companies?? That's bad. I am sure their accounting staff can ascertain whether EV is viable for them

kingdragonfly: 

In particular I'd like Norway type subsidies, who also has a small population and has to import petroleum.

Uhm, you know what Norways biggest export is, don´t you?

jarledb:

 

kingdragonfly: 

In particular I'd like Norway type subsidies, who also has a small population and has to import petroleum.

 

Uhm, you know what Norways biggest export is, don´t you?

 

 

 

 

 

The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs.

Quite ironic that Norway is such a big fossil fuel exporter, yet is well into EV?

tdgeek:

Quite ironic that Norway is such a big fossil fuel exporter, yet is well into EV?

More fast-ish chargers on the way!

In addition to the 50kw DC fast chargers to be installed at Matawai, Putorino / Kotemaori and Wairoa by Eastland Group, they will also be installing 3 more 25kw chargers installed at Tolaga Bay, Te Araroa and Morere. These are in addition to the new fast charger that just went live in Gisborne this week.

A 25kw DC charger will fully charge a car like the Nissan LEAF in under an hour. A half charge would take just over half an hour.

Eastland Group hope to have them all installed and running by Christmas this year.

If they do, it should be possible to drive around the East Cape from Opotiki to Gisborne in all but the humblest of EVs.

(The image below is a bit out of date as it doesn't show the fast chargers now in Taupo and the two along the highway to Napier. )

The fast ish chargers are interesting, anyone know what the thought process is on putting those in instead of 50kw or 150kw variants?