“It’s an exciting time to be talking about the future of wind energy in New Zealand . . . recent growth in wind generation capacity has been spectacular,” Mallard told the 2005 New Zealand Wind Energy Conference in Wellington this morning.

New Zealand had 170MW of installed wind capacity, with another 200MW under development, and resource consents being sought for another 600MW.

“Wind energy is an important part of the answer to our increasingly urgent need for a more sustainable energy system,” said Mallard.

"And it is clearer every day that we have to respond to the uncertainties around the future price and supply of oil by making better use of renewable energy."

New Zealand’s recent strong economic growth, with electricity demand growth of about 2% per annum, had increased the opportunities for wind energy investment.

The government’s carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol and its proposed carbon tax, of NZ$15 per tonne of emissions from April 2007, also meant wind power was more economic.

Last year’s Sustainable Energy discussion paper, the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy review and further policy work, ranging from transport to research and technology, went some way to clarifying wind’s likely future role, the minister said.

“But what about the longer term, are we moving rapidly enough, and steadily enough, towards a sustainable energy future?” asked Mallard.