Wind of change

Australian R&D Review
April, 2007 Page: 16

TrustPower, which generates all of its electricity from sustainable resources, has added impetus to carbon trading in New Zealand by selling carbon credits to Meridian Energy. TrustPower, which owns and operates 34 hydro generators and the Tararua Wind Farm, has been awarded carbon credits for a number of its sustainable generation development and enhancement projects. The largest completed so far has been the Stage 2 development of the Tararua Wind Farm.

Chief executive Keith Tempest says TrustPower's decision to focus on renewable energy sources has proven to be a sound one, for the company and the environment. "We are pleased that our efforts to concentrate on sustainable generation have put us in a position where we are now able to trade our surplus carbon credits to assist others to gain carbon neutrality or offset their own greenhouse gas emissions. We welcome approaches from any New Zealand businesses that require assistance to gain carbon-neutral status."

In addition to its existing 100% sustainable generation portfolio, TrustPower is on target to complete its Tararua Stage 3 Wind Farm expansion in July and its Deep Stream Hydro project later in the year. It is in the resource consenting phase for a new 72MW hydro project in Marlborough, a 42MW hydro scheme on the west coast of the South Island, and a new 200MW wind farm at Mahinerangi in Otago, adjacent to one of its existing hydro schemes. It has also begun construction of a new 88MW wind farm at Snowtown in South Australia.

Link: www.trustpower.co.nz