Keeping Tiwai open could increase renewable power

Common belief that closing down Tiwai aluminium smelter would boost renewable electricity turned on its head. (Image: Getty

Ian Llewellyn

Wed, 09 Mar 2022

Modelling shows that in the long-term greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity system could fall further if the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter stays open rather than closing in 2025.Most thinking in the electricity sector is that the quick closure of the smelter would drive out thermal generation more quickly and deeply as it would free up more supply from the southern hydro lakes.However, work by energy consultant firm Energy Link has come up with a seemingly counterintuitive conclusion that in the long term, the indefinite operation of the...

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