A major milestone reported in this update is the installation of the two turbines, which was completed in March 2023. This update follows up on the delivery of the first turbine that was reported in September 2022.
The turbine technology for the Tauhara geothermal power station was designed and built by Japan-based Fuji Electric. The turbines have 17 stages and can rotate at up to 3000 rpm. They are rated to deliver 174 MWe to the grid, which corresponds to about 3.5% of the electricity needs of the whole New Zealand.
Contact Energy also provided updates on the construction of the cooling towers, and the installation of insulation and cladding on the steam and brine lines. Fluid from the reservoir will be transported through these pipes at 210 degrees Celsius and reinjected at 110 degrees Celsius.
Construction of the Tauhara geothermal power station started in early 2021 and is expected to be completed by late 2023. Tauhura is the sixth geothermal power station by Contact Energy. In early 2022, Contact Energy announced that the planned installed capacity in Tauhara will be increased from the original 152 MW to 168 MW because the geothermal reservoir was found to be more productive than initially expected.
