The Institute of Professional Engineers is pouring cold water on suggestions New Zealand could have 90% of its electricity renewable by 2025.
The institute says this is not, and never has been, a practical target.
The previous Labour Government pledged to make New Zealand electricity 90% renewable by 2025.
The current National Government is less enthusiastic, but has not overturned the goal and it is being reviewed.
However, engineers say the 90% goal was never realistic, due to cheap non-renewable energy and the absence of proper commercial incentives to go renewable.
It says renewable energy - hydro dams, wind farms and geothermal - provide 67% of New Zealand electricity.
This has nudged up in recent years but has been broadly slipping since 1980, when the 90% target did apply.
