Launch of the Vortec 7 Wind Turbine

Hotel du Vin, Pokeno

Alister Martin, chairman of Vortec Energy, and distinguished guests, thank you for inviting me to share this occasion with you.

It is an honour to be at the launch of a world first in energy and windpower technology... and humbling to be greeted as the guide of New Zealand's future energy development.

Thank you for the accolade.

However I would like to return the compliment, because it is companies like Vortec Energy who really hold the future of New Zealand's energy development in their hands.

My role - and that of my predessors - has been to open up energy markets to competition, leading to a burst of innovation and focus which will do more for energy efficiency and energy conservation than 50 years of centralised Government control of the sector ever did.

It is up to companies like yourselves to grab the opportunities offered by the new competitive environment, and I am thrilled to see it happening in this case.

Someone far better with words than I once said: Foot prints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.

You at Vortec Energy have combined Kiwi ingenuity with vision and determination to produce a prototype wind turbine which - if it performs to expectation - will put windpower on a competitive footing with other forms of power generation.

Energy is a pervasive influence in the economy and our day-to-day lives.

It plays an important part in determining whether or not New Zealand companies are internationally competitive.

But many forms of energy are also major CO2 emitters and create a problem as we grapple with the rising national and international clamour for climate change controls.

New Zealand has a particular challenge as it tries to play a responsible role in the negotiation over climate control conventions.

The Coalition Government takes the challenge very seriously, but it is not prepared to take a position which damages the New Zealand economy while the rest of the world continues to carry on as before in terms of energy usage.

The Government's postponement of a decision on a carbon tax - which would have significantly affected the economies of this venture - was taken against this background.

We are investigating, with other countries, alternative market driven mechanisms to encourage energy users to minimise CO2 emissions.

Climate change is a live issue for us all.

We are making progress in reducing energy needs as the country grows.

Between 1991 and 1996 New Zealand's economy has become significantly more energy efficient.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 5 per cent in that period, in spite of the fact that GDP rose 19.4 percent in volume terms in the same period.

This is an improvement on the previous 20 years, but we must do better in the years ahead.

Every step, large or small, that contributes to better CO2 outcomes must be pursued by private and public sectors.

In any event, the energy generation technology on trial in the Vortec turbine, is a huge step in the right direction.

Today you are launching an energy form which does not contribute to the environmental problems caused by CO2 emmissions.

Indeed, quite the opposite.

Wind energy is environmentally friendly, about as natural as you can get, and harnesses a natural competitive advantage New Zealand has, but one which has been largely ignored until recently.

It is encouraging to see technological improvement making wind power a commercially feasible and economically efficient source of energy in New Zealand.

Wind power capacity world wide is currently in the order of 5000 mw and will be about 6000 mw by the end of this year.

This is the equivalent to about two thirds of New Zealand's total electricity generation capacity.

Wind power has been expanding rapidly - in order of 20% per year, particularly in countries such as Germany which doubled its capacity during 1995 to more than 1000 mw.

The cost of wind power is continually declining and is now only about one third of what it was ten years ago.

In New Zealand the current best estimates are that wind power can be produced in the range of $0.06-0.08 per kwh.

But I understand it is hoped Vortec 7 will demonstrate the ability of full-sized machines to produce electricity at about 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

The prospect of that sort of efficiency from a wind turbine blows me away... almost literally.

This venture is part of a significant investment beginning to occur in wind energy New Zealand-wide.

A single turbine in Wellington and a 7 turbine wind farm in Martinborough are up and running, while resource consent for a site of up to 137 turbines has been granted near Palmerston North.

One of the stranger decisions I have seen regarding the application of wind power and its relationship to the Resource Management Act, was the decision in September 1995 by the Hutt City Council to refuse consent for Energy Direct's 47 turbine wind farm at Baring Head.

The tragedy is that the company chose not to appeal the decision.

I - along with others in the Government - am concerned over what I believe is abuse of the Resource Management Act by some lobby groups, neighbours and competitors of resource consent applicants

There is growing concern from significant groups of industry and business, including the energy sector, over frustration with the RMA.

There appears to be an increasing prevalence of vexatious objections being raised to a wide range of projects, for anti-competitive, political or financial gain.

This raises the question whether the Resource Management Act - which is supposedly designed to obtain better environmental outcomes from generating energy than gas or coal burning - will itself become a barrier to environmentally and economically sensible decisions.

Nevertheless, many electricity companies are measuring wind speeds at a range of potential sites and several are expected to apply for resource consents in 1997.

There is a strong general support for wind power in New Zealand, according to surveys conducted over the last two years.

For example, New Zealanders consider wind power to be the most environmentally acceptable method of power generation.

81% of New Zealanders are in favour of windfarms that can be seen in the distance on the skyline, 33% of New Zealanders say they are prepared to pay a 10% premium for wind power.

We need to build on this positive support for wind energy, and mitigate the ``not in my backyard'' factor which often leads to the abuse of the RMA I touched on previously.

However, I am glad you have not encountered those obstacles in the negotiation of the process to reach today's launch of Vortec 7.

What I have seen today is a credit to everyone involved... the Vortec team, their partner Counties Power, the local community and council, iwi and landowners.

It is an example of what the private sector can do to improve New Zealand's energy infrastructure, of what a competitive market can do to generate innovation, and a splendid example to the politically correct who believe only the public sector can provide the best.

New technology is always exciting, and I will be watching with great interest to see how the Vortec 7 performs.

I hope, for the future of environmentally friendly and efficient energy generation in New Zealand, that all your expectations are realised.

It is with great pleasure that I Launch Vortec 7 today.Hotel du Vin, Pokeno

Alister Martin, chairman of Vortec Energy, and distinguished guests, thank you for inviting me to share this occasion with you.

It is an honour to be at the launch of a world first in energy and windpower technology... and humbling to be greeted as the guide of New Zealand's future energy development.

Thank you for the accolade.

However I would like to return the compliment, because it is companies like Vortec Energy who really hold the future of New Zealand's energy development in their hands.

My role - and that of my predessors - has been to open up energy markets to competition, leading to a burst of innovation and focus which will do more for energy efficiency and energy conservation than 50 years of centralised Government control of the sector ever did.

It is up to companies like yourselves to grab the opportunities offered by the new competitive environment, and I am thrilled to see it happening in this case.

Someone far better with words than I once said: Foot prints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.

You at Vortec Energy have combined Kiwi ingenuity with vision and determination to produce a prototype wind turbine which - if it performs to expectation - will put windpower on a competitive footing with other forms of power generation.

Energy is a pervasive influence in the economy and our day-to-day lives.

It plays an important part in determining whether or not New Zealand companies are internationally competitive.

But many forms of energy are also major CO2 emitters and create a problem as we grapple with the rising national and international clamour for climate change controls.

New Zealand has a particular challenge as it tries to play a responsible role in the negotiation over climate control conventions.

The Coalition Government takes the challenge very seriously, but it is not prepared to take a position which damages the New Zealand economy while the rest of the world continues to carry on as before in terms of energy usage.

The Government's postponement of a decision on a carbon tax - which would have significantly affected the economies of this venture - was taken against this background.

We are investigating, with other countries, alternative market driven mechanisms to encourage energy users to minimise CO2 emissions.

Climate change is a live issue for us all.

We are making progress in reducing energy needs as the country grows.

Between 1991 and 1996 New Zealand's economy has become significantly more energy efficient.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 5 per cent in that period, in spite of the fact that GDP rose 19.4 percent in volume terms in the same period.

This is an improvement on the previous 20 years, but we must do better in the years ahead.

Every step, large or small, that contributes to better CO2 outcomes must be pursued by private and public sectors.

In any event, the energy generation technology on trial in the Vortec turbine, is a huge step in the right direction.

Today you are launching an energy form which does not contribute to the environmental problems caused by CO2 emmissions.

Indeed, quite the opposite.

Wind energy is environmentally friendly, about as natural as you can get, and harnesses a natural competitive advantage New Zealand has, but one which has been largely ignored until recently.

It is encouraging to see technological improvement making wind power a commercially feasible and economically efficient source of energy in New Zealand.

Wind power capacity world wide is currently in the order of 5000 mw and will be about 6000 mw by the end of this year.

This is the equivalent to about two thirds of New Zealand's total electricity generation capacity.

Wind power has been expanding rapidly - in order of 20% per year, particularly in countries such as Germany which doubled its capacity during 1995 to more than 1000 mw.

The cost of wind power is continually declining and is now only about one third of what it was ten years ago.

In New Zealand the current best estimates are that wind power can be produced in the range of $0.06-0.08 per kwh.

But I understand it is hoped Vortec 7 will demonstrate the ability of full-sized machines to produce electricity at about 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

The prospect of that sort of efficiency from a wind turbine blows me away... almost literally.

This venture is part of a significant investment beginning to occur in wind energy New Zealand-wide.

A single turbine in Wellington and a 7 turbine wind farm in Martinborough are up and running, while resource consent for a site of up to 137 turbines has been granted near Palmerston North.

One of the stranger decisions I have seen regarding the application of wind power and its relationship to the Resource Management Act, was the decision in September 1995 by the Hutt City Council to refuse consent for Energy Direct's 47 turbine wind farm at Baring Head.

The tragedy is that the company chose not to appeal the decision.

I - along with others in the Government - am concerned over what I believe is abuse of the Resource Management Act by some lobby groups, neighbours and competitors of resource consent applicants

There is growing concern from significant groups of industry and business, including the energy sector, over frustration with the RMA.

There appears to be an increasing prevalence of vexatious objections being raised to a wide range of projects, for anti-competitive, political or financial gain.

This raises the question whether the Resource Management Act - which is supposedly designed to obtain better environmental outcomes from generating energy than gas or coal burning - will itself become a barrier to environmentally and economically sensible decisions.

Nevertheless, many electricity companies are measuring wind speeds at a range of potential sites and several are expected to apply for resource consents in 1997.

There is a strong general support for wind power in New Zealand, according to surveys conducted over the last two years.

For example, New Zealanders consider wind power to be the most environmentally acceptable method of power generation.

81% of New Zealanders are in favour of windfarms that can be seen in the distance on the skyline, 33% of New Zealanders say they are prepared to pay a 10% premium for wind power.

We need to build on this positive support for wind energy, and mitigate the ``not in my backyard'' factor which often leads to the abuse of the RMA I touched on previously.

However, I am glad you have not encountered those obstacles in the negotiation of the process to reach today's launch of Vortec 7.

What I have seen today is a credit to everyone involved... the Vortec team, their partner Counties Power, the local community and council, iwi and landowners.

It is an example of what the private sector can do to improve New Zealand's energy infrastructure, of what a competitive market can do to generate innovation, and a splendid example to the politically correct who believe only the public sector can provide the best.

New technology is always exciting, and I will be watching with great interest to see how the Vortec 7 performs.

I hope, for the future of environmentally friendly and efficient energy generation in New Zealand, that all your expectations are realised.

It is with great pleasure that I Launch Vortec 7 today.Hotel du Vin, Pokeno

Alister Martin, chairman of Vortec Energy, and distinguished guests, thank you for inviting me to share this occasion with you.

It is an honour to be at the launch of a world first in energy and windpower technology... and humbling to be greeted as the guide of New Zealand's future energy development.

Thank you for the accolade.

However I would like to return the compliment, because it is companies like Vortec Energy who really hold the future of New Zealand's energy development in their hands.

My role - and that of my predessors - has been to open up energy markets to competition, leading to a burst of innovation and focus which will do more for energy efficiency and energy conservation than 50 years of centralised Government control of the sector ever did.

It is up to companies like yourselves to grab the opportunities offered by the new competitive environment, and I am thrilled to see it happening in this case.

Someone far better with words than I once said: Foot prints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.

You at Vortec Energy have combined Kiwi ingenuity with vision and determination to produce a prototype wind turbine which - if it performs to expectation - will put windpower on a competitive footing with other forms of power generation.

Energy is a pervasive influence in the economy and our day-to-day lives.

It plays an important part in determining whether or not New Zealand companies are internationally competitive.

But many forms of energy are also major CO2 emitters and create a problem as we grapple with the rising national and international clamour for climate change controls.

New Zealand has a particular challenge as it tries to play a responsible role in the negotiation over climate control conventions.

The Coalition Government takes the challenge very seriously, but it is not prepared to take a position which damages the New Zealand economy while the rest of the world continues to carry on as before in terms of energy usage.

The Government's postponement of a decision on a carbon tax - which would have significantly affected the economies of this venture - was taken against this background.

We are investigating, with other countries, alternative market driven mechanisms to encourage energy users to minimise CO2 emissions.

Climate change is a live issue for us all.

We are making progress in reducing energy needs as the country grows.

Between 1991 and 1996 New Zealand's economy has become significantly more energy efficient.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 5 per cent in that period, in spite of the fact that GDP rose 19.4 percent in volume terms in the same period.

This is an improvement on the previous 20 years, but we must do better in the years ahead.

Every step, large or small, that contributes to better CO2 outcomes must be pursued by private and public sectors.

In any event, the energy generation technology on trial in the Vortec turbine, is a huge step in the right direction.

Today you are launching an energy form which does not contribute to the environmental problems caused by CO2 emmissions.

Indeed, quite the opposite.

Wind energy is environmentally friendly, about as natural as you can get, and harnesses a natural competitive advantage New Zealand has, but one which has been largely ignored until recently.

It is encouraging to see technological improvement making wind power a commercially feasible and economically efficient source of energy in New Zealand.

Wind power capacity world wide is currently in the order of 5000 mw and will be about 6000 mw by the end of this year.

This is the equivalent to about two thirds of New Zealand's total electricity generation capacity.

Wind power has been expanding rapidly - in order of 20% per year, particularly in countries such as Germany which doubled its capacity during 1995 to more than 1000 mw.

The cost of wind power is continually declining and is now only about one third of what it was ten years ago.

In New Zealand the current best estimates are that wind power can be produced in the range of $0.06-0.08 per kwh.

But I understand it is hoped Vortec 7 will demonstrate the ability of full-sized machines to produce electricity at about 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

The prospect of that sort of efficiency from a wind turbine blows me away... almost literally.

This venture is part of a significant investment beginning to occur in wind energy New Zealand-wide.

A single turbine in Wellington and a 7 turbine wind farm in Martinborough are up and running, while resource consent for a site of up to 137 turbines has been granted near Palmerston North.

One of the stranger decisions I have seen regarding the application of wind power and its relationship to the Resource Management Act, was the decision in September 1995 by the Hutt City Council to refuse consent for Energy Direct's 47 turbine wind farm at Baring Head.

The tragedy is that the company chose not to appeal the decision.

I - along with others in the Government - am concerned over what I believe is abuse of the Resource Management Act by some lobby groups, neighbours and competitors of resource consent applicants

There is growing concern from significant groups of industry and business, including the energy sector, over frustration with the RMA.

There appears to be an increasing prevalence of vexatious objections being raised to a wide range of projects, for anti-competitive, political or financial gain.

This raises the question whether the Resource Management Act - which is supposedly designed to obtain better environmental outcomes from generating energy than gas or coal burning - will itself become a barrier to environmentally and economically sensible decisions.

Nevertheless, many electricity companies are measuring wind speeds at a range of potential sites and several are expected to apply for resource consents in 1997.

There is a strong general support for wind power in New Zealand, according to surveys conducted over the last two years.

For example, New Zealanders consider wind power to be the most environmentally acceptable method of power generation.

81% of New Zealanders are in favour of windfarms that can be seen in the distance on the skyline, 33% of New Zealanders say they are prepared to pay a 10% premium for wind power.

We need to build on this positive support for wind energy, and mitigate the ``not in my backyard'' factor which often leads to the abuse of the RMA I touched on previously.

However, I am glad you have not encountered those obstacles in the negotiation of the process to reach today's launch of Vortec 7.

What I have seen today is a credit to everyone involved... the Vortec team, their partner Counties Power, the local community and council, iwi and landowners.
Hotel du Vin, Pokeno

Alister Martin, chairman of Vortec Energy, and distinguished guests, thank you for inviting me to share this occasion with you.

It is an honour to be at the launch of a world first in energy and windpower technology... and humbling to be greeted as the guide of New Zealand's future energy development.

Thank you for the accolade.

However I would like to return the compliment, because it is companies like Vortec Energy who really hold the future of New Zealand's energy development in their hands.

My role - and that of my predessors - has been to open up energy markets to competition, leading to a burst of innovation and focus which will do more for energy efficiency and energy conservation than 50 years of centralised Government control of the sector ever did.

It is up to companies like yourselves to grab the opportunities offered by the new competitive environment, and I am thrilled to see it happening in this case.

Someone far better with words than I once said: Foot prints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.

You at Vortec Energy have combined Kiwi ingenuity with vision and determination to produce a prototype wind turbine which - if it performs to expectation - will put windpower on a competitive footing with other forms of power generation.

Energy is a pervasive influence in the economy and our day-to-day lives.

It plays an important part in determining whether or not New Zealand companies are internationally competitive.

But many forms of energy are also major CO2 emitters and create a problem as we grapple with the rising national and international clamour for climate change controls.

New Zealand has a particular challenge as it tries to play a responsible role in the negotiation over climate control conventions.

The Coalition Government takes the challenge very seriously, but it is not prepared to take a position which damages the New Zealand economy while the rest of the world continues to carry on as before in terms of energy usage.

The Government's postponement of a decision on a carbon tax - which would have significantly affected the economies of this venture - was taken against this background.

We are investigating, with other countries, alternative market driven mechanisms to encourage energy users to minimise CO2 emissions.

Climate change is a live issue for us all.

We are making progress in reducing energy needs as the country grows.

Between 1991 and 1996 New Zealand's economy has become significantly more energy efficient.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 5 per cent in that period, in spite of the fact that GDP rose 19.4 percent in volume terms in the same period.

This is an improvement on the previous 20 years, but we must do better in the years ahead.

Every step, large or small, that contributes to better CO2 outcomes must be pursued by private and public sectors.

In any event, the energy generation technology on trial in the Vortec turbine, is a huge step in the right direction.

Today you are launching an energy form which does not contribute to the environmental problems caused by CO2 emmissions.

Indeed, quite the opposite.

Wind energy is environmentally friendly, about as natural as you can get, and harnesses a natural competitive advantage New Zealand has, but one which has been largely ignored until recently.

It is encouraging to see technological improvement making wind power a commercially feasible and economically efficient source of energy in New Zealand.

Wind power capacity world wide is currently in the order of 5000 mw and will be about 6000 mw by the end of this year.

This is the equivalent to about two thirds of New Zealand's total electricity generation capacity.

Wind power has been expanding rapidly - in order of 20% per year, particularly in countries such as Germany which doubled its capacity during 1995 to more than 1000 mw.

The cost of wind power is continually declining and is now only about one third of what it was ten years ago.

In New Zealand the current best estimates are that wind power can be produced in the range of $0.06-0.08 per kwh.

But I understand it is hoped Vortec 7 will demonstrate the ability of full-sized machines to produce electricity at about 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

The prospect of that sort of efficiency from a wind turbine blows me away... almost literally.

This venture is part of a significant investment beginning to occur in wind energy New Zealand-wide.

A single turbine in Wellington and a 7 turbine wind farm in Martinborough are up and running, while resource consent for a site of up to 137 turbines has been granted near Palmerston North.

One of the stranger decisions I have seen regarding the application of wind power and its relationship to the Resource Management Act, was the decision in September 1995 by the Hutt City Council to refuse consent for Energy Direct's 47 turbine wind farm at Baring Head.

The tragedy is that the company chose not to appeal the decision.

I - along with others in the Government - am concerned over what I believe is abuse of the Resource Management Act by some lobby groups, neighbours and competitors of resource consent applicants

There is growing concern from significant groups of industry and business, including the energy sector, over frustration with the RMA.

There appears to be an increasing prevalence of vexatious objections being raised to a wide range of projects, for anti-competitive, political or financial gain.

This raises the question whether the Resource Management Act - which is supposedly designed to obtain better environmental outcomes from generating energy than gas or coal burning - will itself become a barrier to environmentally and economically sensible decisions.

Nevertheless, many electricity companies are measuring wind speeds at a range of potential sites and several are expected to apply for resource consents in 1997.

There is a strong general support for wind power in New Zealand, according to surveys conducted over the last two years.

For example, New Zealanders consider wind power to be the most environmentally acceptable method of power generation.

81% of New Zealanders are in favour of windfarms that can be seen in the distance on the skyline, 33% of New Zealanders say they are prepared to pay a 10% premium for wind power.

We need to build on this positive support for wind energy, and mitigate the ``not in my backyard'' factor which often leads to the abuse of the RMA I touched on previously.

However, I am glad you have not encountered those obstacles in the negotiation of the process to reach today's launch of Vortec 7.

What I have seen today is a credit to everyone involved... the Vortec team, their partner Counties Power, the local community and council, iwi and landowners.

It is an example of what the private sector can do to improve New Zealand's energy infrastructure, of what a competitive market can do to generate innovation, and a splendid example to the politically correct who believe only the public sector can provide the best.

New technology is always exciting, and I will be watching with great interest to see how the Vortec 7 performs.

I hope, for the future of environmentally friendly and efficient energy generation in New Zealand, that all your expectations are realised.

It is with great pleasure that I Launch Vortec 7 today.
It is an example of what the private sector can do to improve New Zealand's energy infrastructure, of what a competitive market can do to generate innovation, and a splendid example to the politically correct who believe only the public sector can provide the best.

New technology is always exciting, and I will be watching with great interest to see how the Vortec 7 performs.

I hope, for the future of environmentally friendly and efficient energy generation in New Zealand, that all your expectations are realised.

It is with great pleasure that I Launch Vortec 7 today.