A specialist energy firm says there's not enough energy demand in New Zealand to warrant the development of wind sites, but wind energy is well placed to satisfy demand when it picks up.
At a wind energy conference last week Siemens talked about the steps it has been taking to try and reduce the cost of wind power so that it can become competitive with fossil fuels.
The company, which works across the energy sector around the globe, focuses on wind in New Zealand.
Its executive vice-president for energy for the Pacific, David Pryke, says the long-term viability of gas and coal in New Zealand is a problem and given the good wind conditions, wind energy is at the point where it's close to being a competitive source.
He says New Zealand is an attractive market to Siemens because it's perhaps the only country in the world where subsidies are not needed for wind energy.
But Mr Pryke says Siemens would like to move towards making wind competitive in all markets globally in the medium term.
As to why there is not more wind site development in New Zealand, he says that's because there is not enough demand for power in general.
