Whirinaki Power Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whirinaki Power Station |
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|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Whirinaki, Hawke's Bay |
| Coordinates | 39°22′34″S 176°53′36″E / 39.37611°S 176.89333°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 2004 |
| Owner(s) | Contact Energy |
| Operator(s) | Contact Energy |
The Whirinaki Power Station is a special power plant in Whirinaki, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It uses gas turbines to create electricity. This station is designed to be a backup power source, ready to help when New Zealand needs more electricity.
Contents
Early Days: The FT4 Plant
In 1978, a power station was built on this site. It was quite powerful, able to make 220 megawatts (MW) of electricity. This first plant used four large machines called 'twinpac units' from a company named Pratt & Whitney. Each unit had two special engines called FT4 gas turbines.
This power station ran on diesel fuel. Because diesel was expensive, the plant did not run very often. It was mostly kept as a backup.
- In 1993, one of the twin-pac units was moved. It went to a dairy factory in Te Awamutu to help make power there.
- In 2001, the three remaining units were sold. They were moved to Australia to become part of another power plant.
New Beginnings: The FT8 Plant
New Zealand faced power shortages in 2001 and 2003. This happened because there wasn't enough water in the lakes that feed hydro power stations. To prevent future shortages, the New Zealand government asked Contact Energy to build a new backup power plant at Whirinaki.
This new plant was meant to be a "generator of last resort." This means it would only be used when absolutely necessary. For example, it would run during dry years when hydro lakes were low. It would also help if a main power station broke down or if there was a problem with the main power lines.
The new power station cost about $150 million. It officially opened in June 2004.
How the FT8 Plant Works
The power station opened in 2004. It uses diesel fuel, just like the old one. It has three new Pratt & Whitney 'twinpacs.' Each of these has two FT8 gas turbines. The plant can produce a total of 155 MW of electricity.
It was designed to be a standby power station. This means it can quickly start up and provide power when demand is high or other power sources are not available. The New Zealand Government owned the station, but Contact Energy managed and operated it.
Ownership Changes
The station was supposed to be transferred to Meridian Energy in October 2010. This was part of changes to the electricity market. However, Meridian Energy decided not to buy the station.
So, in December 2010, the New Zealand Government announced it would sell the plant. They put it up for sale through a public bidding process. In 2011, the Ministry of Economic Development offered the plant for sale. Contact Energy bought it on December 22, 2011.
