A glimpse of the five largest geothermal power plants in New Zealand

The geothermal energy It is widely considered New Zealand’s most reliable renewable energy source and the country is home to some of the largest geothermal power plants in the world.

Technology takes advantage of Thermal energy They are generated under the earth’s crust, by heat pumps that pull steam or hot water to surface level.

For processing raw energy, there are currently three types of geothermal power plants: Those for dry steam, those for light steam, and those for the dual cycle.

New Zealand is part of Select a group of countries which has many deposit Geothermal power plants with enormous development potential. What is more, It is one of the first countries in the world to use geothermal energy on a large scale.

With the rise in petrochemical fuel prices and the depletion of many hydroelectronic energyAnd the Experts believe that the country still has the potential for another 1,000 megawatts of geothermal energy.

Here is the site NS energy Provides a glimpse into the five largest geothermal power plants in New Zealand.

The five largest geothermal power plants in New Zealand

1. Wairakei – 1.310 gigawatt-hours

Power plant Wairakei, located near the Wairakei geothermal field, in Taupo volcanic area (New Zealand), is the largest geothermal power plant in New Zealand, with a Annual production of 1,310 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

It was launched in 1958 and is owned and operated by an energy retailer and electricity supplier power connection.

The plant initially had Capacity 161 MWBut later, in 2005, the dual cycle plant was built to increase its capacity to 181 MW. The objective of the two-cycle unit is to use the low-temperature steam that has already passed through the main plant.

Wairakei also has a major electrical substation, which is a critical transfer point for the central North Island. of the property Transpower, the state power provider for New Zealand, which it operates.

The substation has the enormous responsibility to connect more than half of New Zealand’s geothermal power plants and many hydroelectric power stations. It also supplies electricity to the entire Hawke’s Bay area and Gisborne, as well as half of the Bay of Plenty area.

Figure 1. Mount Ngauruhoe, a volcano in the Taupo volcanic region in New Zealand. Fountain: Wikipedia

2. I will – 1.200GWh

Power plant I will, in the Wairakei geothermal field north of Taupo, was a NZ$623 million ($483 million) project when it launched in 2014.

The plant takes advantage of the volcanic Taupo region through the Wairaki geothermal field to obtain its energy. It is owned by Contact Energy, which it operates, and It has a capacity of 166 megawatts.

With 1200 GWh annual productionIt was originally built to phase out the Wairakei plant, whose production declined once Te Mihi became operational.

Designed and built by a joint venture between McConnell Doyle, SNC-Lavalin and Parsons Brinkerhoff, the project includes two turbines 83MW of steam provided by Toshiba what or what They provide power to about 160,000 homes.

3. Dual Rivers – 1,100 GWh

The third largest geothermal power plant in New Zealand Burwa rivers, another power plant located on the edge of the Taupo volcanic zone, in the Rotokawa field.

Dubbed Rotokawa II, the NZ$430 million (US$308 million) project was developed by a joint venture between mercury energy s Tauhara North No 2 Trust.

factory building, Capacity 140 MWIt started in May 2008 and was completed in May 2010. Currently, it covers approximately 3% of the country’s electricity needs.

With Annual production of 1100 gigawatt-hourswhat or what او It can supply energy to about 140,000 homesThe factory is located next to the current Rotokawa Phase 1 power plant. The turbine steam Nga Awa Purua is the greatest turbine Single hub and tri flash geothermal power plant in the world.

Figure 2. Geothermal power plant. Fountain: NS energy

4. Mukai – 900 GWh

geothermal power plant mokai, Properties Tuaropaki Energy Corporation and exploits it mercury energy, about 25 km northwest of Taupo, in the deep and high-temperature Mukai Field.

The plant was built in 1999 and put into operation in 2000. Due to its modular nature, the construction period of Mokai was very short.

With a capacity of 55 MW, the plant was expanded by 40 MW in 2005 and another 15 MW in 2007. The plant’s current capacity is 110 MW.

The dual-cycle generation scheme is implemented in the factory. The first is a combination of steam and turbine binary and the second is a unit of Brine At a low temperature it binds to a second turbine binary.

Mokai has two plants that use approximately 40% of geothermal energy and are part of the first phase of modular development.

5. Kawerau – 800 GWh

Built at a cost of NZ$300 million ($215 million), the geothermal power plant in KawerauThe 100 MW power plant is located in the Bay of Plenty, just outside the city of Kawerau. The plant is fed by the Kawerau geothermal field, which is again located in the volcanic Taupo region.

Launched by Mercury Energy in 2008, The plant is the largest single geothermal plant in New Zealand. Only use one turbine Fuji and steam are emitted from geothermal wells. The turbine It is fed by low and high pressure steam, which is released when the two-phase liquid is flashed or separated twice.

Once the Kawerau plant was commissioned, the country’s geothermal capacity increased by 25% and now They provide nearly a third of the region’s residential and industrial demand.

The deposit de Kawerau also serves as a source for the pulp and paper mill in Kawerau, which also benefits from processed steam.

News taken from: NS energy / Free translation from English by global energy trade

It may interest you: