Verónica Castro-AllendeThe UK government has announced its intention to collaborate with New Zealand to expand the onshore wind industry, leveraging its expertise as the world’s second-largest offshore wind market. New Zealand, with its extensive 15,000 km coastline, possesses significant potential to harness wind resources to meet its climate goals and boost its green economy. A recent report by energy consultancy Xodus highlights New Zealand’s abundant wind resources, growing energy demand, favorable regulatory environment, and strong social mandate, positioning the country for rapid development in the onshore wind sector.
The UK, with its extensive experience in wind energy and 13.9 GW of operational onshore wind power, aims to support New Zealand by providing valuable expertise in financing, price stability, supply chain development, and government alignment. The UK has set an ambitious target to quadruple its onshore wind capacity to 60 GW by 2030, aligning its efforts with global climate goals. This partnership between the UK and New Zealand is poised to demonstrate the transformative potential of wind energy on the world stage, addressing climate challenges while fostering economic growth.
The UK government has made it known that it intends to work with New Zealand to grow the onshore wind industry.
New Zealand’s substantial opportunity to grow its onshore wind industry has been highlighted in a new report released by energy consultancy Xodus.
The UK is uniquely positioned to help New Zealand benefit from its abundance of alternative resources thanks to its world-leading expertise in the field and being the second-largest offshore wind market in the world.
Harnessing New Zealand’s onshore wind potential
With 15,000 km of coastline, New Zealand has tremendous potential to harness world-class wind resources, positioning itself to achieve its climate goals and foster a green economy.
According to the report, New Zealand has the essential components to rapidly advance its onshore wind industry: ample resources, rising demand, a friendly regulatory framework, and a strong social mandate.
Leveraging the UK’s wind expertise
The UK has a very worthy supply chain with a 13.9 GW of onshore wind energy that has been fully operational by 2023.
The UK government is focusing on both supplying its unique growing energy needs, which are projected to triple by 2030, and transferring its expertise to nations like New Zealand.
The UK government has set the ambitious goal of quadrupling its onshore wind capacity to 60 GW by 2030.
The UK can offer important expertise to support New Zealand’s onshore wind development. This includes financing strategies, price stability mechanisms, supply chain development, and governmental alignment.
English High Commissioner to New Zealand, HE Iona Thomas OBE, explained:” Tackling climate change is an essential need. Additionally, it does not need to have an financial impact. The UK has just demonstrated that, in addition to decreasing emissions since 1990, the country can grow its economy.
“Unique, transformal change is required to achieve the goals that both New Zealand and the UK have set ourselves.”
The onshore wind industry in New Zealand is prepared to respond as the global shift toward green energy accelerates. The UK is prepared to draw on our expertise to address the difficulties and adopt a proper plan to realize New Zealand’s potential.
“Up, in partnership with friends, New Zealand and the UK have an opportunity to showcase to the world what a world-leading offshore wind industry can look like.”
Both countries can effect transformative change by combining New Zealand’s great wind resources with the UK’s considerable offshore wind expertise, addressing climate issues and fostering financial growth.
The UK and New Zealand are on the verge of showcasing the potential of alternative energy on the global stage.
