NZ's chance to influence the wind of change

OPINION: New Zealand needs to sign up to a new international energy agency that focuses on renewable sources, writes Gerry Coates.

People are increasingly aware that, along with global warming, an energy crisis looms, with oil and gas soon reaching the peaks of their production and discoveries.

The question is how we bridge the gap between our growing energy needs and a dwindling supply from conventional sources.

World energy needs are expected to increase along with population growth by more than 50 per cent by 2030.

The answer is to use more of the array of so-called renewable resources, as distinct from exhaustible resources like oil, gas and coal. They are called renewable because the sun as well as geothermal energy can provide us directly or indirectly with continuously renewed energy. Renewable energy can increase our energy security, because it is universally available, and, because often it can be captured locally, it is less reliant on an electricity grid or pipelines.

The two international energy agencies are the International Energy Agency, which is highly focused on fossil fuels oil, gas and coal; and the International Atomic Energy Agency, solely focused on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The idea of an international agency solely focused on renewable energy has been around since 1981, and the German Parliament revived it in 2004 as the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

International support has been strong, particularly from Europe and a Founding Conference takes place in Bonn today .

It will be important for New Zealand to decide soon whether to support those governments that are already committed to the idea.

Irena's role is to become a centre of excellence for renewable energy , assisting with technology transfer, providing experience and examples of policies and practical applications.

For example, it could demonstrate the benefits of "feed-in tariffs" - guaranteed prices for renewable energy that allow investors and their bankers to have confidence in future income streams in promoting renewables. Another role will be to ensure that international political processes put renewable energy firmly at the centre of trade, investment, environment, energy or other issues.

So far New Zealand, despite its large renewable resources - the "Saudi Arabia of wind", and a strong leader in other areas including marine energy - has, along with Australia, remained uncommitted to Irena.

There is now a strong case for it to be represented alongside the 51 worldwide governments that attended the final preparatory conference. The cost of membership will not be high, the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, not millions. We must have a participatory role and use our growing expertise in the area to influence international trends.

New Zealand would be failing in its international duty now to stand on the sidelines of this important international initiative.

* Gerry Coates is a past-president of the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ and past-chairman of the NZ Wind Energy Association