Environmental Effects of Generation

Generating power has a range of effects on our environment. It is important that we understand what those effects are and how they can be managed.

Effects are managed via the Genesis Energy Environmental Management Framework and vary depending on whether the activities are associated with its hydro generation sites at Tongariro and Waikaremoana, its thermal generation site at Huntly, or wind generation at Hau Nui.

Resource Consents

In New Zealand, environmental effects are controlled via the Resource Management Act and permission is required under the Act to operate and maintain its generating assets.

Genesis Energy has resource consents for the activities at its hydro generation sites at Tongariro and Waikaremoana , its thermal generation site at Huntly, and its Hau Nui wind generation site.

Environmental Mitigation and Initiatives

As a responsible energy provider we do our utmost to see that any negative effect on the environment is avoided, remedied or mitigated. The company has a range of measures in place to manage the environment both through consent conditions and agreements.

Our hydro generation sites at Tongariro and Waikaremoana, its thermal generation site at Huntly have on going mitigation responsibilities which are managed on a day to day basis.

In addition to these, Genesis Energy recognises that it is no longer appropriate for us to simply address the effects of its operation based on resource consent requirements. We are striving to create a more holistic approach to our environmental management, whilst still maintaining our commitment to the local community and as such we have committed to a variety of community initiatives which are intended to further reduce our footprint.

Environmental Reporting

Genesis Energy communicates its environmental performance with stakeholders on a regular basis via a range of media, from formal annual reporting processes to less formal processes such as meetings and newsletters . As such, there are a large number of reports and documents that are produced each year which describe the ongoing operation of both our hydro generation sites at Tongariro and Waikaremoana and our thermal generation site at Huntly.

In addition Genesis Energy has developed a river lakes and rainfall section of this website to ensure that the critical details which relate to the water levels in its hydro schemes are available for the public.