Secretary 2022/23: Michael Archer

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome : Jan welcomed our speaker  Justine Gilliland, Guests: Myles Derry, Tayler Everett, John Middleton, John Ritchie, Alison Pitman; 14 members. 

 

Apologies had been received from : Gary Brown; David Gibson; Owen McCluggage, David Lusk, Simon Northrop, Sally Morch.

 

Raffle: David Brownson

 

Fines : Wally Garrett tested our knowledge of Ireland

 

 

Des provide the club with a pictorial overview of the recent impressive work carried out at The Trust Flats by many volunteers.

 

Replacement and painting of fencing, planting in the lattice retaining walls and in gardens has really spruced up the whole site.

 

Des thanked the Volunteers from the Club that had helped do such a tremendous job.

 

 

Introduced by: Harry Duynhoven mentioned that Justine was schooled at Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth and a graduate from Otago University with A BA (hons) and LLB (tons

She has worked in a number of Public Service organisations and been involved with The Royal Commission on the Christchurch Earthquake.

Former job was CEO of Venture Taranaki.

 

Currently she is New Partnerships Director Strategy and Engagement Consultant for Blue Float Energy who are working with a local joint Venture Partner Elemental based in New Plymouth and Energy Estate to develop Offshore Wind Energy in New Zealand.

 

They are working on 2 possible scenarios in The South Taranaki Bight and South Waikato.

 

The Souh Taranaki project will be using fixed turbines 22KM offshore at a depth of approximately 50Metres with a generating capacity of 900MegaWatts (NZ's total current Energy generation is currently 9 GWatts, expected to rise by 500MW /year) enough to power 430,000 homes.

 

The turbines (each producing 15MWatts)will be 300 metres high (higher than the Power Station Chimney in NP). The plan is to use Port Taranaki to service this industry.

 

New Zealand has the 5th best wind resource in the world with an extensive Economic Zone

The project aims to deliver back to the community by:

Improved biodiversity, upskilling the existing workforce, prioritising local workers, creating a positive legacy to meet net carbon neutral zero targets.

It could be connected to the National grid via cabling offshore (some existing problems with existing Infrastructure) however energy generated could be used for local operators such as Methanex to produce  E methanol as an example.

Other possibilities are to produce Hydrogen on offshore production sites for export/local use and other more stable gases for export.

Construction commencement is estimated to be 2030.

A regulatory framework for a consenting process to gain a development framework to enable a confidence to invest is to be developed next year.

 

The South Waikato prospect is possibly able to produce more power in deeper waters  (200M)using Floating Tethered Wind Turbines with an advantage of being closer to the national Transmission Electricity Grid and able to replace the likes of the Huntly Power Station. Port Taranaki would still be the servicing Port. There will be an urgency for The Port to develop a supporting Infrastructure if the need forecasts are realised.

 

Justine mentioned that currently there is 1250GW of wind generating capacity being planned worldwide, the economy of scale will enable wind power to be cheaper than other sources, this is already being realised.

 

Obviously there will be partnerships with local iwi and potential benefits such as creating Artificial reefs around the Turbines. All development will be well clear of existing offshore marine reefs.Other issues include protection of marine mammals, birds and other sea life.

 

John Pitman thanked Justine for a very informative, well presented comprehensive address. He mentioned that it will be interesting to see how the challenges ahead will be resolved not least of which will be the commercial realities of implementing such a project.

 

 

 

Approx 75% of trees released, aim is to finish by the End of June to enable 400 more trees to be planted.

Thanks to all those that have assisted so far.

Working bees Tuesday's and Sundays 10-12.00 Noon

 

 

Coming in October 2023. Anyone that can assist with Billeting let Jan know.

 

 

Jan thanked Harry again for arranging such interesting speakers. Judy Hanline will be taking over any ideas for speakers would be welcome.

 

 

 

 

Michael Archer: From Seneca (The younger) Roman Philosopher 

"If one does not know to which port one is sailing no wind is favourable"