Taranaki billed as a top spot for wave energy

Taranaki in New Zealand has been described as a prime location for wave-powered energy projects.

Dr John Huckerby from Power Projects said Taranaki was one of the top spots to develop wave and tidal energy resources.

Prime locations for the renewable energy resource is the coastline from Cape Farewell at the top of the South Island to Opunake, reported www.stuff.co.nz.

If Taranaki was to get a wave farm it would likely be about 2km offshore.

"Around Taranaki it would be more attractive to develop the technology with waves not tides," Dr Huckerby said. "You would not be able to see the devices due to the curvature of the earth and, in some instances, the device is completely submerged."

Dr Huckerby said he could see the vast resource being used within the next five to 10 years.

Regarding the Taranaki Region, it is said that the renewable potential comprises wave energy in the thousand MW range, ignoring environmental constraints and conflicts with other maritime users. Accordingly to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) in New Zealand, the annual average wave power around the New Zealand coast varies from 8 kW/m at East Cape to 99 kW/m near Stewart Island. A typical value is around 30 kW/m.