Renewable energy is used throughout New Zealand. Hydro systems, New Zealand's largest renewable energy source, generate around 60 - 70 per cent of the country's electricity and is available on an ongoing basis. New Zealand's unique geographic characteristics allow a number of renewable energy sources to be utilised - including the five sources shown on these stamps, hydro, geothermal, wind, biogas and solar.
The ideal promoted by this stamp issue is to have New Zealand totally free from burning coal of gas to generate electricity for our energy needs.
The Stamps.
45c - Wind Farm: Tararua, Palmerston North.
New Zealand has one of the best wind resources in the world, and the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. Located in Tararua, Palmerston North, it can be seen for kilometres. The installed capacity of the wind farm is 67.98 megawatts and it produces enough electricity annually for more than 30,000 homes and offsets approximately 160,000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide emissions. A single turbine has the potential to produce enough energy in one year to supply 500 households across New Zealand.
2018 - Since this set of stamps were issued, wind farms have appeared in other parts of New Zealand increasing the capacity of wind generation in New Zealand.
90c - Hydro: Roxburgh Dam, Central Otago.
The Roxburgh Dam was commissioned in 1956 and the lake formed by the dam covers an area of nearly six square kilometres, providing an attractive fishing, boating and swimming venue. The water from the lake falls through a pipe called a 'penstock' and is used to spin the turbines. Each turbine produces 56,000 horsepower that turns a generator to produce about 40 megawatts of power. One generator could power more than 400,000 100-watt light bulbs.
2018 - In recent years new hydropower projects have been suggested and considered but none have been built. Partly this is the huge costs to invest in such a project and partly this is due to opposition to the environmental changes such as large dam and lake would cause.
$1.35 - Biogas: Waikato.
The biological breakdown of organic matter can be used to create biogas. Decaying vegetable matter, animal manures and sewerage treatments can all be used to produce methane-based gas. The use of biogas is encouraged in waste management because it does not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is responsible for much of the greenhouse effect. Landfill sites and farms are the most common places to use biogas as renewable energy. Existing sources of biogas in New Zealand could supply 30,000 homes.
$1.50 - Geothermal: Wairakei.
New Zealand's geothermal resources provide an abundant source of renewable energy. The Wairakei Geothermal Operations has become a popular tourist attraction. The greater Waikato region harnesses almost 80 per cent of New Zealand's geothermal systems. Eighteen per cent of the country's primary energy supply is derived from geothermal sources. In 1958 the Wairakei plant was commissioned and was the first geothermal power station to produce power commercially.
2018 - There are a number of Geothermal power project in the centre of the North Island that all add to New Zealand's supply of energy. With this form of power production, once the stream starts coming out of the ground, its hard to stop it so Geothermal power stations tend to produce a steady, constant load leaving fluctuations in demand to be met but turning on and off hydropower.
$2.00 - Solar: Lighthouse, Cape Rēinga.
The solar panels on the lighthouse at Cape Rēinga supply the high-wattage beacon batteries which are remotely operated from Wellington. Solar energy is becoming more popular in homes and can provide up to 75 per cent of a household's water heating during summer. The main downside of solar energy is the very high expense of solar panels. This has to be offset against savings over a period of time. But this is changing as solar panels become cheaper.
First Day Cover - 5 July 2006.
Technical information.
Date of issue: 5 July 2006.
Number of stamps: Five gummed.
Denominations and designs: 45c Wind farm - Tararua, Palmerston North, 90c Hydro - Roxburgh dam, Central Otago, $1.35 Biogas - Waikato, $1.50 Geothermal - Wairakei, $2.00 Solar - Lighthouse, Cape Reinga.
Stamps and first day cover designed by: Watermark, New Zealand.
Printer and process: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by offset lithography.
Number of colours: Four process colours.
Stamp size and format: 45c, 90c, $1.35, $1.50 40mm x 30mm (horizontal), $2.00 30mm x 40mm (vertical).
Paper type: Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phosphor stamp paper.
Number of stamps per sheet: 25.
Perforation gauge: 14 x 14.
Special blocks: Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in both A and B formats.
Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 4 July 2007.
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
Information & images for this post came from.
I hear some experts are saying the Roxburgh Dam is nearing the end of its life with the lake silting up behind the dam and the concrete of the structure becoming older too.
ReplyDeleteGraham
Really? Where will they get electric power if the dam doesn't work?
ReplyDeleteAsami
Good question Asami.
ReplyDeleteWe can't have power stations burning oil or coal - to much carbon emissions.
We can't have hydro - they block rivers and effect the natural environment.
We can't have windpower - they ruin the scenery. One never got consent south of Auckland because it might scare the horses.
We can't have thermal - when they built Wairakei a nearby thermal tourist attraction shut down.
A major underwater power station using giant tidal turbines never went ahead due to costs.
I could go on and on but my point here is to get the power we need there is a cost. We need to weigh up the positives and nagetives to find the best and go for it.
Allan