Lake Onslow. Photo: SuppliedStakeholders in the electricity industry say it's probably not worth the investment to build a large hydro storage scheme in order to service the odd time the country has a lack of electricity. The government is spending $30 million on an investigation into renewable energy projects including a hydro scheme at Lake Onslow in Central Otago which would solve the problem of dry years and the irregular supply of renewable energy sources. The proposed scheme in Lake Onslow would pump water into a storage lake to manage peak demand. Sustainable Energy Forum spokesman Steve Goldthorpe said it's great more renewable energy is being investigated but the scope of the Lake Onslow scheme doesn't make sense.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 27, 2020 19:52 UTC