Inflow data download

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Last post 18 December 2020

dgcfx posted this 14 November 2018 - Last edited 13 February 2020

Is there anyplace to download a hydro inflow dataset, say daily data? I see the “flows” datasets on emi, but that is a lot to wade through. I’m looking for something simpler like the graphs on the Transpower site here, but in .csv or similar and more back history if possible. Cheers.

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Hydrology

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Matthew Keir posted this 15 November 2018 - Last edited 13 February 2020

Hi there,

There is a variety of places you can look for hydrology information, however, to my knowledge up-to-date downloadable data is not available for free anywhere. The following links may provide you with some of what you are looking for:

The generation company websites, for example, https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/about-us/our-power-stations/lake-levels/, https://www.mercury.co.nz/About/Renewable-Energy/Lake-Levels, https://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/assets/rivers-lakes-rainfall.
The regional council websites have some information, including rainfall, river flows, and lake levels. For example try https://ecan.govt.nz/data/rainfall-data/sitedetails/307001, https://www.orc.govt.nz/managing-our-environment/water/water-monitoring-and-alerts/upper-clutha/lake-hawea.
NZX provides a paid subscription service to hydrology data sourced from NIWA https://energy.nzx.com/.
The Authority provides the hydrological modelling dataset that goes back to 1932. However, this is only periodically updated and is targeted at enabling modelling of the NZ power system. To get a set of national inflows, you’ll need to add together the inflows into the controlled storage reservoirs. https://www.emi.ea.govt.nz/Environment/Datasets/HydrologicalModellingDataset/2_Flows_20161231/. To download the whole dataset see access method two at the following link https://www.emi.ea.govt.nz/Forum/thread/new-access-arrangements-to-emi-datasets-retirement-of-anonymous-ftp/.
As you’ve discovered summarised hydro information outlining the current situation is available in various places:
- reports on EMI https://www.emi.ea.govt.nz/Environment/Reports/3UN1KD we’ll look to add some information on inflows sometime next year.
- Transpower as the system operator https://www.transpower.co.nz/system-operator/security-supply/hydro-storage-information.
- via other interested parties https://www.energylink.co.nz/publications/hydro-watch.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,

Matthew

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Matthew Keir posted this 29 November 2018 - Last edited 29 November 2018

Further to the post above:

https://www.lawa.org.nz/ collects water quality information from across the regional councils and presents this in one place. Some additional summary information on rainfall and reservoirs/lakes is also provided.

Worth a look.

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paulatsydney posted this 25 November 2019

Thanks Matthew, it's quite helpful.

Actually I've subscribed NIWA, which contains weather data and hydro water quality data such as water discharge and stage data. While it doesn't contain the storage information, given that NZX energy provide data based on NIWA data, i don't understand how NZXEnergy sort it out.

https://niwa.co.nz/information-services/cliflo

https://niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/environmental-data-explorer-new-zealand

Have a nice week and Cheers, Paul