McKee power station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McKee Power Station |
|
---|---|
Country | New Zealand |
Location | Taranaki |
Coordinates | 39°05′19″S 174°20′02″E / 39.08861°S 174.33389°E |
Status | Operational |
Owner(s) | Nova Energy |
Operator(s) | Nova Energy |
The McKee Power Station is a special kind of power plant in Taranaki, New Zealand. It uses natural gas to make electricity. This power station is owned and run by a company called Nova Energy.
What is the McKee Power Station?
The McKee Power Station is a facility that creates electricity. It's found in northern Taranaki, New Zealand, right at the McKee production station. This station uses natural gas as its main fuel source.
It has two large gas turbines that can each produce 50 megawatts (MW) of power. These work in an 'open cycle' way, meaning they use the gas once to make electricity. The station also has two smaller engines that produce 1 MW each. These engines use a process called 'cogeneration'. This means they produce both electricity and useful heat at the same time.
How Much Power Does It Make?
The main part of the McKee Power Station, which uses the two large gas turbines, can produce 100 MW of electricity. This is enough power for many homes and businesses. The smaller engines add another 2 MW, bringing the total to 102 MW.
When Did It Start?
The 100 MW part of the power station officially opened in March 2013. It cost about $100 million to build this section. The plant uses special gas turbines made by a company called General Electric, specifically the GE LM6000 models.