Southdown Power Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southdown Power Station |
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Southdown Power Station's turbine stacks
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Southdown, Auckland City |
| Coordinates | 36°55′39″S 174°49′38″E / 36.927563°S 174.827328°E |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Commission date | December 1996 |
| Decommission date | December 2015 |
| Owner(s) | Mighty River Power |
The Southdown Power Station was a power plant in Southdown, a suburb in southern Auckland City, New Zealand. It used natural gas to create electricity. This power station was special because it also produced steam for nearby factories. This process is called cogeneration.
When it was working, Southdown Power Station was the largest power plant in the northern part of New Zealand. It could produce more than 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
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How it Started
The Southdown Power Station was built by two companies working together. They were called TransAlta and Mercury Energy. This partnership was known as the Southdown Cogeneration Joint Venture.
The plant first had two large machines called gas turbines. It also had one steam turbine. These machines used natural gas to make 114 MW of power.
Plant Changes Over Time
In the year 2000, a company called Mighty River Power bought half of the power station. By 2002, they owned the whole plant.
In 2007, another gas turbine was added to the station. This made the plant even more powerful. It helped to produce more electricity for the Auckland area.
How Southdown Power Station Worked
Mighty River Power (now called Mercury Energy) owned and ran the Southdown Power Station. This plant helped support the company's other power stations. These included hydroelectric (water-powered) and geothermal (heat from the earth) stations.
The power station was in a good spot in Auckland. It helped keep the city's electricity supply stable. It also made sure there was enough power when many people needed it, like during busy times.
Power During Dry Spells
Southdown was very important during dry periods. This was when there was not enough water to run Mighty River Power's eight hydroelectric stations. These stations are on the Waikato River. Southdown could step in and make up for the lost power.
Making Electricity and Steam
The station made 170 MW of electricity for Auckland. But it also did something else useful. It sent steam to local factories near the plant.
When working at full power, the station could send out 180 tonnes of steam every hour. This steam was sent through pipes to the factories. It was used for their industrial processes.
Environmental Impact
Like all power plants that burn fuel, Southdown Power Station produced carbon dioxide. This gas goes into the air. In the financial year 2008-2009, the station released about 249,407 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Closing Down the Station
In March 2015, Mighty River Power announced that Southdown Power Station would close. The company decided to sell the plant's equipment to buyers overseas. The station officially stopped operating in December 2015.
