New Zealand:

Two New Geothermal Plants Planned for Far North of New Zealand (The Northern Advocate)

Consent requested for two 25 MW plants by Top Energy

A tripling of Ngawha power station's 25 MW output could make the Far North self-sufficient in electricity and create up to 200 new jobs, a Top Energy boss says.

The expansion, if it goes ahead, could also allow Far Northerners to avoid a hefty price hike proposed by the Electricity Authority to pay for national power infrastructure.

Top Energy is applying for a raft of consents from the Northland Regional and Far North District councils for its plans to build two new geothermal power plants at Ngawha, east of Kaikohe. Each new plant would generate 25 megawatts, as much as the two existing plants combined. The total 75 MW produced would make the Far North an electricity exporter because even at peak demand the district consumes just 70 MW.

The consent hearing will be held at Kingston House in Kerikeri on August 10 and 14. Top Energy is likely to use Ormat that designed the first two plants, though that will depend on price because it is no longer the only producer of power plants suitable for Ngawha's conditions.

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