Te Mihi Power Station
Encyclopedia
The Te Mihi Power Station is a 159 MW geothermal power
station being developed by Contact Energy
north of Taupo
in New Zealand
.
The resource consent
for the power station was "called in" by the Minister for the Environment Trevor Mallard
under the terms of the Resource Management Act
. The appointed Board of Enquiry granted the consent with a set of stipulated conditions.
Te Mihi Power Station will use geothermal energy from the Wairakei
geothermal field, which lies in the Taupo Volcanic Zone
. It is planned to gradually replace the Wairakei Power Station
which will be phased out of production. When Te Mihi is finished, output from Wairakei will decrease by approximately 45 MW, resulting in a net increase of about 114 MW.
The project is expected to cost $623 million and to be operational in 2013.
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
station being developed by Contact Energy
Contact Energy
Contact Energy Limited is a New Zealand electricity generator, natural gas wholesaler and electricity, natural gas, and LPG retailer.The company is the second-largest electricity generator in New Zealand , generating 24 percent of New Zealand's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and...
north of Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The resource consent
Resource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
for the power station was "called in" by the Minister for the Environment Trevor Mallard
Trevor Mallard
Trevor Colin Mallard is a New Zealand politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand holding portfolios including Environment, Labour, Broadcasting, State Owned Enterprises, Rugby World Cup and Education. He was also Associate Minister of Finance.-Early...
under the terms of the Resource Management Act
Resource Management Act
The Resource Management Act passed in 1991 in New Zealand is a significant, and at times, controversial Act of Parliament. The RMA promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources such as land, air and water...
. The appointed Board of Enquiry granted the consent with a set of stipulated conditions.
Te Mihi Power Station will use geothermal energy from the Wairakei
Wairakei
Wairakei is the name of a power station, small settlement and a geothermal area a few kilometres north of Taupo, in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand, on the Waikato River.- Geothermal field :...
geothermal field, which lies in the Taupo Volcanic Zone
Taupo Volcanic Zone
The Taupo Volcanic Zone is a highly active volcanic V shaped area in the North Island of New Zealand that is spreading east -west at the rate of about 8mm per year...
. It is planned to gradually replace the Wairakei Power Station
Wairakei Power Station
The Wairakei Power Station is a geothermal power station near the Wairakei Geothermal Field in New Zealand. Wairakei lies in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.- History :...
which will be phased out of production. When Te Mihi is finished, output from Wairakei will decrease by approximately 45 MW, resulting in a net increase of about 114 MW.
The project is expected to cost $623 million and to be operational in 2013.
External links
- Contact Energy - Te Mihi Power Station