{{Short description|Geothermal station in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox power station | name = Tauhara Power Station | name_official = | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|38|40|5|S|176|9|4|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | country = New Zealand | location = [[Taupō]], [[New Zealand]] | status = O | construction_began = 31 March 2021<ref name="RDP2021">{{cite news| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/tauhara-geothermal-power-station-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-marks-beginning-of-construction/YLBOQOI6PXQ4NH6NWP7N26ZWMU/| title=Tauhara geothermal power station: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern marks beginning of construction| date=31 March 2021| first=David| last=Beck| publisher=Rotorua Daily Post}}</ref> | commissioned = November 2024 | decommissioned = | cost = | owner = [[Contact Energy]] | operator = | geo_type = | geo_well_count = | geo_well_depth = | geo_temp_requirement = | th_cogeneration = | ps_units_manu_model = | ps_electrical_capacity = 174 MW<ref name=our-projects/> | ps_electrical_cap_fac = | website = [https://contact.co.nz/aboutus/our-story/our-projects/tauhara Tauhara webpage] | extra = }}
The '''Tauhara Power Station''' is a [[geothermal power]] station north of [[Taupō]] in [[New Zealand]]. Previously known as Tauhara 2, the project was developed by [[Contact Energy]] and Tauhara Moana Trust<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10757239| title=Maori trust signs geothermal drilling deal with Contact Energy| date=7 October 2011| first=Whare| last=Akuhata| publisher=New Zealand Herald}}</ref> and opened in November 2024.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/tauhara-power-station-now-fully-operational/2WSZF6S4ZFF2ZMKBYFRKOJ5LWE/| title=Tauhara Power Station now fully operational| date=28 November 2024| first=Dan| last=Hutchinson| publisher=Waikato Herald}}</ref> At its peak it can produce up to 174 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 200,000 homes.
==Background== Stage 1 of the wider Tauhara project is operational as the [[Te Huka Power Station]]. This is a 23 MW binary plant supplied with geothermal steam from the Tauhara field.<ref name="Energy2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/energy/energy-modelling/publications/energy-in-new-zealand| title=Energy In New Zealand| date=July 2014| publisher=MBIE}}</ref>
==Tauhara Stage 2== The application for [[resource consent]]s for a 250 MW power station was submitted in February 2010. The Minister for the Environment determined that this project was one of national significance, and referred it to an independent Board of Inquiry.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first-epa-request-referred-board-inquiry| title=First EPA request referred to board of inquiry| date=23 March 2010| first=Nick| last=Smith}}</ref> The resource consents were granted in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/completed/th/Pages/report-and-decision.aspx| title=Report and decision| publisher=[[Environmental Protection Authority (New Zealand)|Environmental Protection Authority]]| date=10 December 2010}}</ref> It was the first infrastructure project to be processed under the new Board of Inquiry process administered by the [[Environmental Protection Authority (New Zealand)|Environmental Protection Authority]]. In August 2019 Contact Energy began drilling four wells to further characterize the geothermal reservoir on the field and inform a final decision on whether to build a new power plant.<ref name="our-projects">{{cite web| url=https://contact.co.nz/aboutus/our-story/our-projects| title=Our Projects| publisher=Contact Energy}}</ref>
The project was expected to cost around $580 million.<ref>{{cite press release| url=https://contact.co.nz/aboutus/media-centre/2021/02/16/contact-to-build-tauhara-geothermal-power-station-will-raise-$400m-in-equity| title=Contact to build Tauhara geothermal power station; will raise $400m in equity| date=15 March 2021| publisher=Contact Energy}}</ref>
In February 2021 Contact Energy announced that it planned to issue $400 million of new shares to raise capital to build the plant.<ref name="shares">{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/124246395/contact-to-issue-400m-in-new-shares-to-fund-tauhara-station-interim-profit-up |title=Contact to issue $400m in new shares to fund Tauhara station, interim profit up| first=Melanie| last=Carroll| publisher=Stuff| date=15 February 2021| accessdate=15 February 2021}}</ref>
Construction of the station began in March 2021<ref name="RDP2021" /> In February 2022 Contact announced that the completion date would be delayed to mid-2023, but that the output of the station would increase to 168 MW.<ref name=RNZDelay>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/461105/contact-energy-s-tauhara-geothermal-power-station-completion-date-delayed |title=Contact Energy's Tauhara geothermal power station completion date delayed |publisher=[[RNZ]] |date=8 February 2022 |access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> In November 2023, the target for the station to be operational was pushed to the third quarter of 2024, with an output of 152 MW, rising to 174 MW later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzx.com/announcements/421410|title=UBS Geothermal Commissioning Update|date=10 November 2023|publisher=NZX}}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|New Zealand|Geology|Renewable energy}}}} * [[Geothermal power in New Zealand]] * [[List of power stations in New Zealand]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://contact.co.nz/aboutus/our-story/our-projects/tauhara Contact Energy] - Tauhara Power Station
{{Electricity generation in Waikato}}
[[Category:Geothermal power stations in New Zealand]] [[Category:Taupō]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in the Taupō District]]