Ngawha geothermal field

Ngawha Power Station
Location of Ngawha Power Station in New Zealand
Country New Zealand
Location Northland
Coordinates 35°25′03″S 173°51′07″E / 35.41750°S 173.85194°ECoordinates: 35°25′03″S 173°51′07″E / 35.41750°S 173.85194°E
Status Operational
Commission date 1998, 2008
Owner(s) Top Energy
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 25 MW

The Ngawha geothermal field is a geothermal area in the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated approximately 5 km east of Kaikohe and is centred on the village of Ngawha Springs. The field covers an area of around 25 km² and as such, is much smaller than the only other geothermal field in New Zealand, the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The hot springs arising in this area are slightly acidic and are rich in ammonia, bicarbonate, boron and mercury, which is not typical of other springs in New Zealand.[1]

Ngawha Power Station

The Ngawha geothermal power station opened in 1998 with a generating capacity of about 8MW.[1] An expansion was completed in 2008, increasing the capacity to 25MW and allowing the power station to provide 70% of Northland's electricity.[2] The Ngawha Power Station was the first power station to come into operation via a resource consent applied for and issued under the Resource Management Act.[3]

The plant is owned and operated by Top Energy, and utilises a binary cycle manufactured by Ormat Industries.

Electricity Generation at Ngawha.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Northland Regional Council report on Environmental Monitoring : 2001-2002". Northland Regional Council.
  2. Top Energy (21 May 2007). "Ngawha generator secured in local ownership" (Press release). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  3. "Regulatory Settings". New Zealand Geothermal Association.

External links