Energy
The Energy sector in New Zealand faces some unique challenges based on our geography, types of energy we generate/use and more recently the changes in political and environmental polices shaping the sector.
Some of the key issues range in scale from greenhouse gas emissions and land use constraints for renewable energy development to site management and rehabilitation of sites including petroleum service stations and terminals.
Our technical capabilities support many of these challenges, and include a full suite of land contamination management and environmental impact assessment for renewable energy and traditional power generation sites, geohazard identification and risk assessment for lifelines (such as high pressure gas/petroleum pipelines), air quality assessments for waste to energy plants and resource management planning support for green or brownfield site for renewable energy such as solar farms.
We work closely with energy sector companies and consenting authorities to provide effective and efficient solutions to their environmental challenges. Our individual specialists and wider teams are located throughout NZ, and we can add value to projects, either directly to our clients or as part of joint teams/alliances.
Our Service Offerings and Areas of Expertise
- Contaminated land and asbestos assessment: Land acquisition due diligence; preliminary and detailed site investigations; design, construction, and supervision of remedial works; and asbestos investigations, building surveys, inspection, and asbestos management
- Geotechnical: Geohazard risk assessment, slope stability and stabilisation, rockfall mitigation, foundations, retaining structures, liquefaction, settlement
- Air quality and emissions modelling: Construction dust assessment and monitoring, operational emissions, network and link assessments, health and greenhouse gas impacts
- Aviation wildlife hazard management: Airport hazard management, bird strike assessment for bordering developments, wildlife hazard management plans, solar array glint and glare assessment, and HSNO legislative requirements
- Freshwater and terrestrial ecology: Wetland delineation, ecological assessments for instream works, fish salvage and relocation, fauna surveys and management, offsetting
- Stormwater: Site management, culverts, treatment design, drainage systems, construction erosion and sediment control
- River Engineering: Hydrology, catchment assessments, flood modelling, erosion protection, hydraulic structure design, river management plans/scheme reviews
- Consenting: Planning assessments, consenting risk, strategy, designations, AEEs, outline plans, expert evidence, plan changes, consultation
- Tangata Whenua Advisory: Facilitating effective engagement with tangata whenua, CIA’s, ensuring regulatory compliance within projects while upholding and integrating tangata whenua perspectives
- Groundwater: Contamination, hydrogeology models, dewatering, land settlement, inflows, seepage control, and water safety planning.
- GIS and Remote Sensing: Advanced spatial and data analytics including site and route selection; change detection methodologies to monitor landcover change; collecting, monitoring and managing environmental data to assist in compliance and consent management.
- Climate change: Adaption planning (assets and supply chains), risk assessments, emissions
- Wastewater treatment: Design, build, and construction monitoring
To learn more, download our overview.
Related projects
Awakau Road - Safeguarding critical energy infrastructure with PDP's slope stabilisation solutions
Back in 2020, PDP completed a project for Firstgas to enhance the resilience of its transmission pipeline network in the North Island, which is essential to supplying natural gas to kiwi homes, businesses and major industry throughout the North Island.
Tekapo Power Scheme reconsenting – Hydrology Assessment
Tekapo Power Scheme (TPS) is located at the head of the Waitaki Valley in the Mackenzie District and uses water from Lake Tekapo to generate electricity.
Perris Road Landslide Remediation
PDP completed a project addressing a landslide that affected critical gas and petroleum products pipelines north of Auckland.
Z Crofton Downs – Site Closure
PDP was engaged by Z Energy to provide environmental support for the closure of the Crofton Downs service station in Wellington.
Environmental Assessment at Service Station Site
PDP was commissioned to undertake an environmental assessment following the discovery of contamination in soils located immediately adjacent to an operating service station.
Channel Infrastructure New Zealand
Channel NZ (Channel Infrastructure New Zealand) manages the fuel pipeline that extends from Marsden Point to Auckland.
Z Energy Climate Change Exposure Assessment
Z Energy Limited (Z) has engaged PDP in three packages of work surrounding climate change.
Point Durham Windfarm Assessment of Environmental Effects (2023-24)
PDP partnered with Chatham Islands Electricity Limited (CIEL) to secure resource consents for an ambitious renewable energy project — a key step in the islands’ transition away from diesel-generated electricity.
Waipaoa River Flood Plain, Gas Pipeline Soil Cover Erosion – Geohazard Assessment and Remediation
PDP assisted First Gas Limited to assess the mechanism and provide remedial design for a 29 m long erosion feature that exposed the gas pipeline near Gisborne when the Waipaoa River over-topped its stop banks during ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
Geohazards Emergency Response to Extreme Rainfall Events – North Island Lifeline Networks
PDP assisted First Gas Limited with emergency response on their gas pipeline network related to the 2023 extreme rainfall events across the upper North Island and the North Island East Coast.
Richardson Road Landslide – Remediation of a Complex Landslide for Pipeline Security
PDP completed a project addressing a landslide that affected a critical gas transmission pipeline in South Auckland.
Hororata Solar Farm Resource Consent Application (2024-25)
PDP partnered with Selwyn Solar LP to support a 10-hectare solar energy development in Hororata, Canterbury.
Kōwhai Park Solar Farm
Christchurch International Airport Limited, in partnership with Contact Energy and Lightsource bp, is developing Kōwhai Park – beginning with a 300-hectare solar farm designed to generate up to 168 MWp of electricity.
Mt Munro Wind Farm – Technical Expert Review and Evidence
PDP was engaged by Horizon Regional Council, Wellington Regional Council, Masterton District Council and the Tararua District Council to provide expert technical review and Environment Court evidence for the Mt Munro Wind Farm proposed to be developed by Meridian Energy in the northern Wairarapa.
Ruakākā Energy Park – Environmental Secondment
Meridian Energy is delivering a major renewable energy development near Marsden Point, Northland – a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) and a 130-megawatt solar farm.
Huriwaka Wind Farm, Manawa Energy
PDP was engaged by Manawa Energy to undertake a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) of a large piece of rural land in the Central North Island for potential contaminated land matters.
BP National Environmental Works
PDP is BP’s long-standing environmental advisor, providing practical and trusted support across a wide range of service station projects.