Just as reports of Costa Rica achieving 75 days of being powered by 100% renewable energy, New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have released statistics which show that around 80% of New Zealand’s electricity needs in 2014 were met by renewable energy.
Data released show that the electricity generated came from green energy sources such as geothermal, wind, biogas and wind last year.
Since 2009, New Zealand have seen an increase of the power burden being provided for by renewable resources.
Geothermal and gas, the largest contributors, accounted for approximately equal amounts of the total electricity generated, while wind has overtaken coal in terms of energy production.
Wood and biogas, though much less than other sources, still made reasonable contributions to the 80% figure.
New Zealand aim to have 90% renewable sourced energy by 2025.
Cedrec's take
Yet another role model for the rest of the world. Hot on the heels of Costa Rica's incredibly encouraging news, New Zealand add further weight behind the argument for divesting from fossil fuels.
If anything, New Zealand's achievement is even more useful to the debate on fossil fuels, due to it being a larger, more populous country than Costa Rica. If New Zealand are able to provide 80% of the power to their 4.5 million inhabitants, the climate change fight has become even clearer.
