2023 annual Aotearoa New Zealand geothermal review

Abstract

This paper summarises the key metrics and activities of the Aotearoa New Zealand Industry over the calendar year 2023.
During 2023, geothermal electricity generation fell by 3.45% to 7,758 GWh due to planned and forced station outages. This output supplied 17.8% of New Zealand’s electricity. Total renewable generation increased to 88% of the national electricity supply.
The net installed geothermal capacity remained steady at 1033 MWe from 20 stations in 8 fields. Roughly 65% of capacity is older than 10 years, and 20% of capacity is older than 30 years.
Over the next five years, generation will likely increase by 24% to over 10 TWh per annum with the addition of new plants Tauhara (174 MWe), Te Huka Unit 3 (50 MWe), TOPP2 (49 MWe), and Ng? Tamariki expansion (46 MWe).
Operators drilled five deep wells and four shallow wells for the year. This activity will likely increase in support of generation developments.
The geothermal industry’s CO2e emissions fell materially during the year due to re-injection schemes at Ng?wh?, Ng? Tamariki, and Te Huka.
The service sector continues to evolve with the amalagation of software firms and increased technical service exports.
NZ universities continued to support the industry. Geothermal student enrolments at the NZ Geothermal Institute continue to recover from the COVID-19 low.