State of our roads.

[C_T_Russell]

It seems this govt is not interested on spending on roads.
Even if we had to have new toll roads, I would rather have that as an option than no roads at all.
Im sick of this "anti" car narrative we are seeing. EV's are now a thing, so any climate change issues are going to be short lived anyway, public transport is in a poor state and not an attractive or practical option for many either.

[Lilith7]

Perhaps far more emphasis needs to be put on public transport.

[Oldfellah]

Even if NZ has thousands of EVs , they are going to have to be recharged, oh wait we need to burn coal to create the electricity to do that because the infrastructure we have in this country certainly wont be able to cope with all the extra power.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We currently supply the aluminium smelter with vast amounts of power at discount rates. For a limited time.

We have plenty of power generation potential, without coal. The trouble is managing demand. And there are solutions to that currently under discussion. There has to be, it is part of our commitment to Climate Change amelioration.

[Lilith7]

There's are several places where they have solar panels on cycleways. Perhaps solar panels alongside roads could work, on a larger scale.

South Korea.
https://www.treehugger.com/south-korea-s...%20tunnels.

"Right in the middle of a highway is interesting placement for a bicycle lane.

In South Korea, there's a solar bike path that shields riders from the sun while at the same time generating power from it. The bicycle lane runs for 20 miles between Daejeon and Sejong, reports Fast Company.

Cyclists get on and off the path via underground tunnels. "

The Netherlandshttps://www.triplepundit.com/story/2016/looking-dutch-solar-bike-path-after-one-year/29346

"After one year, researchers are in an educated position to say whether the SolaRoad was everything green-minded people hoped it would be. Fortunately, the path exceeded expectations even in its early stages. After it had only been operating for six months, the path attracted more than 150,000 riders, and more importantly, generated more than 3,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. ThatÔÇÖs enough to power a home for a year."


https://www.springwise.com/innovation/mo...ke-pathway

"Spotted: A modular, semi-enclosed bicycle path provides riders with shelter, light at night and en-route charging stations. Designed by German architect Peter Kuczia, the Solar Veloroute uses a thin canopy to protect cyclists from sun, wind and rain. Curved steel arches support the array of photovoltaic panels that, according to Kuczia, could generate up to 2,000 MWh of electricity per kilometre of bike path."

[Zurdo]

EV's are heavier than an ICE...so they should pay higher RUCs. As far as the Government (any party) not spending money on our roads...all the tax for roading gets spent on roading - read the article. So to get more money they need to raise road taxes....ah, no. Um....take the money off those bloody dole bludgers ! YEAH !

[harm_less]

Even if NZ has thousands of EVs , they are going to have to be recharged, oh wait we need to burn coal to create the electricity to do that because the infrastructure we have in this country certainly wont be able to cope with all the extra power.

You're living in the past with that comment. Our two EVs mostly run on sunshine, or when the sun doesn't do the job we charge off peak when grid generation is in surplus and prices cheaper.

[Lilith7]

I wouldn't mind one of these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PthIedAoj3w

Winter proofing an ELF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lNRoBIgAa0

[Oldfellah]

Even if NZ has thousands of EVs , they are going to have to be recharged, oh wait we need to burn coal to create the electricity to do that because the infrastructure we have in this country certainly wont be able to cope with all the extra power.

You're living in the past with that comment. Our two EVs mostly run on sunshine, or when the sun doesn't do the job we charge off peak when grid generation is in surplus and prices cheaper.

Of course you would charge off peak power when the price is cheaper, but the power still has to be generated doesnt it?

New Zealand burned more coal for electricity production in the first quarter of this year than any quarter in nearly a decade. The revelation comes the day after a "transformational" climate change report that slated successive governments for its inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that continue to rise.

9/06/2021

[harm_less]

You're living in the past with that comment. Our two EVs mostly run on sunshine, or when the sun doesn't do the job we charge off peak when grid generation is in surplus and prices cheaper.

Of course you would charge off peak power when the price is cheaper, but the power still has to be generated doesnt it?

New Zealand burned more coal for electricity production in the first quarter of this year than any quarter in nearly a decade. The revelation comes the day after a "transformational" climate change report that slated successive governments for its inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that continue to rise.

9/06/2021

The reason electricity is cheaper during off peak is because it is being generated by facilities that can't just be turned off such as hydro and wind so is is surplus capacity during that time. 'Peaker' plants are typically powered by hydrocarbons such as gas, oil and coal and are used to satisfy peak demand such as after dawn and early evening which is when demand that can be deferred such as EV charging and HWC heating so some type of consumer incentivisation is required to prevent this avoidable demand. EECA is presently inviting input on a green paper that addresses just this issue.

https://www.eeca.govt.nz/assets/EECA-Res...t-2022.pdf

If you're that concerned about the demands put on NZ's grid capacity you would be advised to submit on this.

Also of interest is the real time breakdown of our electricity generation. I note that "Battery" is a recent addition to this and will be interested to see how soon it begins to show outputs, and also the arrival of solar generation in those stat's.

https://www.transpower.co.nz/power-system-live-data

[king1]

my understanding is that those coal fired plants can't just be turned on and off for peak times, from what I can gather it takes days for one of those plants to be cranked up to full capacity...

[Oldfellah]

I have just been watching Parliament TV and Chris Luxon asked the PM why is it that 4 times more coal is being imported into New Zealand this year, her stupid answer was well we are doing it because we cant make it rain to fill rivers to produce energy , holey shit what planet is she on? Tell that to Wellington and Nelson about the rain!!!!!

[king1]

I have just been watching Parliament TV and Chris Luxon asked the PM why is it that 4 times more coal is being imported into New Zealand this year, her stupid answer was well we are doing it because we cant make it rain to fill rivers to produce energy , holey shit what planet is she on? Tell that to Wellington and Nelson about the rain!!!!!

Do we have hydro dams in those locations?

[harm_less]

my understanding is that those coal fired plants can't just be turned on and off for peak times, from what I can gather it takes days for one of those plants to be cranked up to full capacity...

That's probably the case but that will become a moot point at the end of this year as Genesis has stated that it will end coal powered generation at Huntly this December which accounts for almost all of the coal generation in NZ presently.

[harm_less]

I have just been watching Parliament TV and Chris Luxon asked the PM why is it that 4 times more coal is being imported into New Zealand this year, her stupid answer was well we are doing it because we cant make it rain to fill rivers to produce energy , holey shit what planet is she on? Tell that to Wellington and Nelson about the rain!!!!!

Do we have hydro dams in those locations?

None of any significance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_po...roelectric

The PM's comments are particularly relevant in respect to a serious lack of snow on Ruapehu which may be a problem for Waikato River flow rates this year. Egmont is similarly bare presently so a dry summer could cause real problems here in the Naki.

[king1]

my understanding is that those coal fired plants can't just be turned on and off for peak times, from what I can gather it takes days for one of those plants to be cranked up to full capacity...

That's probably the case but that will become a moot point at the end of this year as Genesis has stated that it will end coal powered generation at Huntly this December which accounts for almost all of the coal generation in NZ presently.

well that's good news - so Mr Luxon having a winge about the amount of coal is also a moot point...

[harm_less]

That's probably the case but that will become a moot point at the end of this year as Genesis has stated that it will end coal powered generation at Huntly this December which accounts for almost all of the coal generation in NZ presently.

well that's good news - so Mr Luxon having a winge about the amount of coal is also a moot point...

Luxon lacking relevancy... what's new

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We could all use less power. If we chose to. Turning stuff off at the wall for instance. Using less hot water. Rationalising unnecessary energy heavy tasks. If we chose to...

Meantime, there are plans under discussion for a new hydro 'battery' scheme - https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-en...ow-option/

[Zurdo]

Not so many years ago they hardly burned coal at Huntly, it ran on gas. When built it was to burn coal from Huntly West mine, and there is an overland conveyor to supply coal to the power station....and they import coal, while the West mine is still operating. They were going to shut the whole thing down, way over useby date, and 2 units were decommissioned...one has been restarted. Town folk were upset, because the chimneys were coming down too....we can't loose the chimneys, they need to keep the Dekka sign company. So, it's all on to bowl it again....or...

[C_T_Russell]

We currently supply the aluminium smelter with vast amounts of power at discount rates. For a limited time.

We have plenty of power generation potential, without coal. The trouble is managing demand. And there are solutions to that currently under discussion. There has to be, it is part of our commitment to Climate Change amelioration.

The problem is that there are plans on turning Tiwai point into a hydrogen plant when the smelter shuts down, that would be a terrible mistake, NZ needs that electricity. Making hydrogen is not sustainable and very costly.