With a recorded growth of 360% and a commissioning of 130MW of power in the last year, New Zealand’s wind industry does not look like slowing, with 70MW commissioned in the last four months and another 170MW undergoing the consent process.

“There is today about 1000MW of wind energy developments that could be built at prices very competitive with any other form of generation, and without subsidies,” said Glennie.

“Most importantly, the cost of electricity produced from a wind turbine is largely known for a 20 year period from the day the turbine is switched on. The opposite is true for fossil fuels that are being traded on an increasingly volatile market. When it comes to stability of price and, increasingly, supply, wind is the winner hands down.”