New Zealand:

Geothermal Plant Keeps Far North Island Connected During Severe Storm (News Release)

The Ngawha geothermal power station stayed online throughout one of the worst storms to hit the North Island of New Zealand

About 11,000 Far North households remain without power following extensive damage to the region’s electricity network following the severe storm experienced across the region yesterday and last night. The areas that continue to be most impacted by the outages are Taipa, Pukenui, Russell and Opononi.

The storm is the most severe event that Top Energy has experienced for at least a decade and the network has sustained extreme damage right across the Far North. Significantly, this extends beyond wires to include poles and other structures. Sturdy concrete electricity poles have been blown down and even snapped and large 50-60 year-old trees have been blown down across lines and access roads.

Top Energy’s 25 MWe Ngawha geothermal power station stayed on throughout yesterday and last night. It lost one of its outgoing 33kv lines but was able to use the second line. The Station consistently produces around 70% of all electricity consumed in the Far North, which reduces the community’s exposure to possible National Grid failures to the South.

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