Mighty River Power’s new Kawerau geothermal power station is fully operational ahead of time, under budget and capable of generating at a higher than expected capacity of 100MW.The $300M Kawerau project was the largest single geothermal development in New Zealand for more than 20 years. The station’s output significantly increases national generation capacity and meets approximately one-third of residential and industrial demand in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region.
Edison was engaged by Mighty River Power to provide technical support during the tendering, design and installation of the 110/11 kV substation and 110 kV transmission line that connects the new geothermal power station to the national grid (Transpower).The substation comprises two 110/11 kV transformers, associated switchgear and protection including synchronisation into the grid. The 110 kV line was constructed in concrete pi-pole configuration, utilised a narrow corridor and had to traverses transport corridors around an operating mill site.
Alan Ofsoski, Mighty River Power
