Renewable energy planning resources

Renewable energy is usually defined as energy that comes from a resource that is naturally replenished, such as wind, waves, hydro or solar energy. 

Planning for renewable energy generation

As more renewable generation is built in New Zealand, councils are increasingly having to understand the benefits and impacts.

The following guidelines provide assistance to councils.

• Guidelines for Local Authorities - Wind Power
• Incentives for Solar Water Heating in the Community.  a presentation on the benefits of solar water heating and how councils can help.
• Domestic scale distributed generation: guidance for local government (May 2010).  Guidance and information to assist with the approval processes and requirements for small-scale distributed renewable energy generation technologies in New Zealand. 

Regional renewable energy assessments

Regional renewable energy assessments analyse  the types and availability of renewable energy on a region-by-region basis.  These assessments help councils identify what renewable energy resources they have in their area, and how to integrate this information into their planning and strategy processes. Through these findings, councils can then identify the most sustainable way to meet our energy needs.

Read the regional renewable energy assessment for your region:

• Hawkes Bay
• Bay of Plenty
• Auckland
• Waikato
• Canterbury
• Taranaki
• Tasman
• Northland
• Marlborough
• Manawatu-Wanganui
• Wellington
• Otago
• West Coast

If you are unable to download this report, call EECA on 0800 358 676 and we will send you a hardcopy.

More information 

Get smart, think small: Local energy systems for New Zealand (December 2006)

This report was commissioned by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Developing small-scale renewable energy projects in New Zealand (June 2008)

This report provides high level guidance to independent renewable energy project developers who wish to investigate and progress distributed generation projects. The report focuses on geothermal, hydro and wind projects in the range of 10 kW to 20 MW.  The report was commissioned by EECA and prepared by Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd.

The Resource Management Act 1991.  The Ministry for the Environment provides a gateway to New Zealand's main piece of legislation that sets out how we should manage our environment.