New Zealand’s location in the South Pacific and surrounded by tempestuous tides indicates wave and current power should be an important part of our energy future. At present no energy from these sources is a real option for Christchurch but this is an ever-changing area of research and within a decade there may be developments benefiting us.
There have been science and research efforts looking at generating electricity from waves in Lyttelton and at the head of Banks’ Peninsula.
Crown Research Institutes IRL and NIWA placed a research wave converter in Lyttelton Harbour as part of a four year project. Wave power from this project and others is likely to be ten years away.
Work by ECAN and the University of Canterbury, CRIs IRL and NIWA have identified the best opportunities.