Case studies

When Maree Handy built on a remote property near Fairlie in South Canterbury, she had
the choice of connecting to the nearby electricity lines or building her own stand alone
power system. Being independent from the grid and never receiving another power bill
was appealing - so she opted for her own ‘little power station'.

Small wind turbines can generate electricity for use on the farm, business and home. Wind turbines can co-exist easily with other farming practices, and have been used for decades on European farms. There is a wide range of turbines suitable for use in New Zealand, ranging from micro-scale to larger commercial-scale systems. This guide to wind power schemes is aimed at a farming audience, and includes practical examples.

Like many rural or remote properties, connecting to the electricity grid was not an option
for this remote island holiday home the Bay of Islands. Instead, a stand alone power system
generates the electricity needed for a relaxing getaway with all the comforts of home.

This report reviews the installation of small-scale renewable electricity generation systems on five islands around New Zealand, on Department of Conservation bases. The report reviews the economics and performance of the systems, the potential benefits that accrue from switching from diesel-fuelled generation to systems incorporating photovoltaic modules and micro hydro units, and sensitivity analysis to test the economics under a number of scenarios.