{{Short description|Power station in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox power station |name = Ohaaki Power Station |image = Ohaaki geothermal power station.jpg |image_caption = |country = New Zealand |location = [[Waikato]] | coordinates = {{coord|38|31|37|S|176|17|31|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}} |owner = [[Contact Energy]] |status = Operational | geo_type = | geo_temp_requirement = | geo_well_count = | geo_well_depth = | geo_water_output = | ps_cogeneration = |ps_electrical_capacity= 104 MW |commissioned = 1989 |decommissioned = }}
The '''Ohaaki Power Station''' is a [[Geothermal power|geothermal]] power station owned and operated by [[Contact Energy]]. A distinctive feature of this power station is the 105 m high natural draft [[cooling tower]], the only one of its kind in New Zealand.
Although initially constructed to generate 104 MW, decline in the steamfield has meant maximum net capacity is about 65 MW with an annual output of around 400 GWh pa.<ref>Contact Energy Prospectus, 1999</ref>
There are currently three turbines in operation. One smaller turbine runs off high pressure steam which then backfeeds into the main intermediate pressure system that feeds the two main units. Condensers on the back end of the main turbines are fed cooled water from the cooling tower to condense the steam back into water. Additional condensate gained in this process is reinjected back into the ground. [[File:Geothermal.Electricity.NZ.Ohaaki.png|thumb|none|260px|Electricity Generation at Ohaaki, New Zealand.]]
In 2013, the [[Waikato Regional Council]] granted resource consents for a term of 35 years and for a take of 40,000 tonnes per day of geothermal fluid.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.contactenergy.co.nz/web/pdf/general/cen-granted-ohaaki-resource-consents.pdf| title=Contact Energy granted Ohaaki resource consents| date=4 November 2013| publisher=Contact Energy| access-date=5 November 2013| archive-date=6 November 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106134607/http://www.contactenergy.co.nz/web/pdf/general/cen-granted-ohaaki-resource-consents.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Ohaaki Marae== The plant is located adjacent to the Ohaaki Marae ([[Ngāti Tahu]]) on the banks of the [[Waikato River]] in [[New Zealand]]. Gradual sinking of the marae has been attributed to draw-off of geothermal fluids by the power station. The area of the marae is sinking approximately 170mm a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594601|title=Sinking marae's iwi upset at second forced shift|last=Ihaka|first=James|date=2 September 2009|publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=2009-09-02}}</ref> In the 1960s, the marae was moved to its present location because the previous site was flooded when the dam for the [[Ohakuri Power Station]] was filled.
==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |location = Broadlands (2km SE of Ohaaki Power Station, 1951–1980) | Jan high C = 23.5 | Feb high C = 23.9 | Mar high C = 21.5 | Apr high C = 18.3 | May high C = 14.4 | Jun high C = 11.7 | Jul high C = 11.0 | Aug high C = 12.6 | Sep high C = 14.8 | Oct high C = 17.5 | Nov high C = 19.5 | Dec high C = 21.5 | year high C = | Jan low C = 10.1 | Feb low C = 11.0 | Mar low C = 9.4 | Apr low C = 6.7 | May low C = 3.5 | Jun low C = 1.5 | Jul low C = 0.8 | Aug low C = 2.2 | Sep low C = 3.7 | Oct low C = 5.7 | Nov low C = 7.2 | Dec low C = 8.9 | year low C = | Jan mean C = 16.8 | Feb mean C = 17.5 | Mar mean C = 15.5 | Apr mean C = 12.5 | May mean C = 9.0 | Jun mean C = 6.6 | Jul mean C = 5.9 | Aug mean C = 7.4 | Sep mean C = 9.3 | Oct mean C = 11.6 | Nov mean C = 13.4 | Dec mean C = 15.2 | year mean C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 82 |Feb rain mm = 84 |Mar rain mm = 78 |Apr rain mm = 96 |May rain mm = 95 |Jun rain mm = 102 |Jul rain mm = 104 |Aug rain mm = 91 |Sep rain mm = 80 |Oct rain mm = 97 |Nov rain mm = 80 |Dec rain mm = 106 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/ |title = NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 1830, 1832) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 25 Nov 2024}}</ref> }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite book | editor=Martin, John E | title=People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 - 1990| location=Wellington| publisher= Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand| year=1991 | isbn = 0-908912-16-1| pages = 316 pages}} *{{Cite journal | last1 = Tokeley | first1 = A. H. | last2 = Brown | first2 = D. P. | doi = 10.1243/PIME_PROC_1992_206_006_02 | title = Ohaaki Power Station: Geothermal development in New Zealand | journal = Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy | volume = 206 | issue = 11 | pages = 41 | year = 1992 | bibcode = 1992PIMEA.206...41T }}
{{stack|{{Portal|New Zealand|Geology|Renewable energy}}}} {{Electricity generation in Waikato}}
[[Category:Geothermal power stations in New Zealand]] [[Category:Taupō District]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in the Taupō District]]