{
  "dataset": "New Zealand Energy for Compute — System Indicators",
  "publisher": "Digital.nz Intelligence",
  "updated": "2026-08-24",
  "scope": "Selected public indicators relevant to assessing large electricity loads such as data centres and AI compute. Figures describe the wider system or named assets; they do not represent capacity available to a new connection.",
  "summary": {
    "renewable_generation_share_q1_2026_percent": 94.5,
    "generation_pipeline_capacity_oct_2025_mw": 44300,
    "committed_generation_capacity_oct_2025_mw": 1380,
    "potential_data_centre_demand_gwh_per_year": 5000,
    "earliest_dry_year_risk_signal": 2028
  },
  "indicators": [
    {"indicator":"Renewable share of electricity generation","value":94.5,"unit":"percent","period":"2026 Q1","note":"Quarterly outcome under favourable hydro and wind conditions","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly/march-2026-summary"},
    {"indicator":"Renewable share of electricity generation","value":83.2,"unit":"percent","period":"2025 Q1","note":"Same quarter one year earlier, with record-low January and February hydro inflows","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly/previous-energy-quarterly-editions/new-zealand-energy-quarterly-march-2025"},
    {"indicator":"Total electricity generation","value":10335,"unit":"GWh","period":"2026 Q1","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly/march-2026-summary"},
    {"indicator":"Electricity consumption","value":9517,"unit":"GWh","period":"2026 Q1","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly/march-2026-summary"},
    {"indicator":"Solar generation","value":373,"unit":"GWh","period":"2026 Q1","note":"Record quarter; 50.2% higher year-on-year","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly/march-2026-summary"},
    {"indicator":"Electricity-sector emissions","value":420,"unit":"kt CO2-e","period":"2026 Q1","note":"Low quarterly result under favourable renewable conditions","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-statistics-and-modelling/energy-publications-and-technical-papers/new-zealand-energy-quarterly"},
    {"indicator":"Renewable share of annual electricity generation","value":88.5,"unit":"percent","period":"2025","note":"Annual result from Energy in New Zealand 2026; not directly comparable with a single favourable quarter","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/solar-and-geothermal-generation-at-record-highs"},
    {"indicator":"Grid-connected solar installed since 2023","value":247,"unit":"MW","period":"At February 2026","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/grid-connected-solar-is-having-its-time-in-the-sun/"},
    {"indicator":"Installed wind capacity","value":1257,"unit":"MW","period":"At February 2026","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/grid-connected-solar-is-having-its-time-in-the-sun/"},
    {"indicator":"Generation projects in investment pipeline","value":288,"unit":"projects","period":"October 2025","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/new-generation-projects-flowing-through-the-investment-pipeline/"},
    {"indicator":"Generation investment pipeline capacity","value":44300,"unit":"MW","period":"October 2025","note":"All pipeline stages; this is not equivalent to committed or deliverable capacity","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/new-generation-projects-flowing-through-the-investment-pipeline/"},
    {"indicator":"Committed generation pipeline capacity","value":1380,"unit":"MW","period":"October 2025","note":"Projects reported as having a final investment decision","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/new-generation-projects-flowing-through-the-investment-pipeline/"},
    {"indicator":"Generation under construction","value":1415,"unit":"MW","period":"December 2025 public assessment","note":"Expected over the following 18–24 months; more than half, 787 MW, was solar","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/new-generation-projects-flowing-through-the-investment-pipeline/"},
    {"indicator":"Average connection-queue-to-completion time for projects under construction","value":4.5,"unit":"years","period":"December 2025 public assessment","source":"https://www.ea.govt.nz/news/eye-on-electricity/new-generation-projects-flowing-through-the-investment-pipeline/"},
    {"indicator":"Potential additional data-centre electricity demand","value":5000,"unit":"GWh per year","period":"Transpower outlook","note":"Stated as up to 5,000 GWh, similar to New Zealand Aluminium Smelter demand","source":"https://www.transpower.co.nz/news/transpower-report-highlights-continued-progress-towards-highly-electrified-future"},
    {"indicator":"HVDC inter-island transfer capacity","value":1200,"unit":"MW","period":"Existing","source":"https://www.comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/news-and-events/2026/cook-strait-cable-investment-to-keep-nzs-electricity-reliable-into-the-future/"},
    {"indicator":"HVDC inter-island transfer capacity","value":1400,"unit":"MW","period":"After approved upgrade","note":"Completion expected in the early 2030s","source":"https://www.comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/news-and-events/2026/cook-strait-cable-investment-to-keep-nzs-electricity-reliable-into-the-future/"}
  ],
  "security_of_supply_signals": [
    {"signal":"Reference Case winter energy margin","outlook":"Falls below the lower security standard by 2031","condition":"Committed generation and battery projects are delivered on time","source":"https://www.transpower.co.nz/system-operator/security-supply"},
    {"signal":"Expected Future Case dry-year energy risk","outlook":"Could emerge as early as 2028","condition":"Lower domestic gas supply and LNG imports from 2029","source":"https://www.transpower.co.nz/system-operator/security-supply"},
    {"signal":"Grid Blueprint","outlook":"Least-regrets investments for the 2030s and 2040s are being identified","condition":"Transpower status at August 2026","source":"https://www.transpower.co.nz/our-work/te-kanapu/our-scenarios"}
  ],
  "selected_assets": [
    {"asset":"Manapouri Power Station","technology":"Hydro","region":"Southland","public_capacity_mw":800,"capacity_note":"Operating maximum station output under consent conditions; not an availability statement for new load","source":"https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/power-stations/hydro/manapouri"},
    {"asset":"Tauhara Power Station","technology":"Geothermal","region":"Central North Island","public_capacity_mw":174,"capacity_note":"Full-capacity figure stated by operator; geothermal can provide weather-independent generation","source":"https://contact.co.nz/investor-centre/news/2024/new-zealands-energy-security-boosted-as-contact-opens-new-geothermal-power-station"}
  ],
  "connection_tests": [
    "Confirmed grid connection capacity and delivery date",
    "N-1 resilience, fault level, voltage and reactive-power requirements",
    "Firm energy and peak-capacity coverage through dry years",
    "Long-term price, hedge or power-purchase structure",
    "Additional generation, storage or demand-response contribution",
    "Carbon accounting based on contracted supply and time profile, not only an annual national average"
  ]
}