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22 June 2026
David Farrar
By email:
[FYI request #34734 email]
Tēnā koe David
Your request
Thank you for your request, received on 27 May 2026, under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the
Act) for the following information:
I am seeking data on how much extra power (MW) was added to the grid each year.
Specifically would like for the years 2009 to 2026 the extra power (gross not net) added to the
grid through additional power stations. Ideally divided into renewable and non-renewable
We clarified that you were primarily interested in GWh (energy) added to the grid during that time
period.
Our response
The information you have requested is attached as Appendix 1.
This file contains the annual energy in GWh added to the grid each year between 2009 and 2026
(as of 15 June 2026), split into renewable and non-renewable generation. This data includes grid-
connected generation only – information on embedded generation trends can be found here:
Electricity Authority - EMI (market statistics and tools).
In addition, published background information on commissioned plants included (up to September
2025 only) can be found here:
Existing generation fleet | Electricity Authority. For information on
plants commissioned after September 2025, please refer to the investment pipeline updates in our
fortnightly reports to the Minister for Energy, which are published here:
Fortnightly reports |
Electricity Authority, which include our fortnightly reports up to March 2026.
The following capacity factor
s1 assumptions were used to calculate annual GWh for each
generation type: 0.163 for solar generation, 0.4 for onshore wind, 0.95 for geothermal, 0.3 for open
cycle gas turbines, and 0 for grid-connected batteries. Capacity factor assumptions are based on a
2023 generation investment survey which can be found here:
Generation investment survey.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
1 Capacity factors used here are the assumed energy output of a power plant relative to its maximum possible output
over a given period (here one year).
UNCLASSIFIED

As this information may be of interest to other members of the public, the Electricity Authority Te
Mana Hiko may proactively release a copy of this response on our website. Al personal data,
including your name and contact details, wil be removed before publication.
If you’d like to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact us by emailing
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā,
Airihi Mahuika
GM Legal, Monitoring and Compliance
Attachments:
Appendix 1 – CommissionedGenerationGWhByYear.csv
UNCLASSIFIED
Document Outline
- Official Information Act request received by the Electricity Authority
- Request for additional generation added since 2009
- Request
- Background
- Information being released
- Legal Rationale
- Consultation/Transfer
- Communications/Risks
- Publication
- Proposed documents for release