Meridian Annual Report - Meridian Energy

6
Our Operations
Meridian is New Zealand’s largest electricity generator, supplying
electricity to over 180,000 residential, business and rural customers
throughout the country. Our electricity is generated from renewable
resources. Currently we operate nine hydro stations in the South Island,
two wind farms, one in the Manawatu in the lower North Island and
one in Mossburn in Southland and a wind turbine in Wellington.
Assets
Te Āpiti Wind Farm
Te Āpiti is Meridian’s first New Zealand
wind farm and the first wind farm to supply
electricity into New Zealand’s national grid.
Its 55 turbines have a generation capacity
of 90MW – enough to power around 32,000
average sized households.
Wellington Wind Turbine
New Zealand’s first viable, commercial wind
turbine, it was installed in 1993 and has a
maximum capacity of 0.23MW – enough to
power around 80 average households.
White Hill Wind Farm
White Hill in Southland is the first wind
farm in the South Island. It was officially
opened on 8 June 2007. Its 29 turbines have
a generation capacity of 58MW – enough
electricity to power around 20,000 average
households.
Manapouri
New Zealand’s largest hydro power station,
Manapouri was voted New Zealand’s
greatest engineering achievement in 2006.
The station is underground, 200 metres
below the West Arm of Lake Manapouri.
Commissioned in 1972, Manapouri’s
generation capacity of 840MW (operational
limit is 710MW) is enough to power around
half a million average households.
Waitaki Hydro Scheme
The Waitaki hydro scheme consists of eight
power stations in the Mackenzie basin and
Waitaki Valley, from Lake Tekapo to Lake
Waitaki, all operated from a control centre
in Twizel. The first station (Waitaki) was
commissioned in 1935, and the last (Ohau C)
in 1985.
Tekapo A Commissioned in 1951, Tekapo A
was the second power station in the Waitaki
Hydro Scheme. Its generation capacity of
25MW is enough to power around 15,000
average households.
Tekapo B Commissioned in 1977, the Tekapo B
power station is essentially an island in the
middle of Lake Pukaki, connected to shore
by a 75-metre-long bridge. Its generation
capacity of 160MW is enough to power
around 83,000 average households.
Ohau A Ohau A is located on the man-made
Ohau canal. Water from Ohau A passes into
Lake Ruataniwha, which is the site of an
international rowing course. Commissioned
in 1979/80, Ohau A’s generation capacity of
264MW is enough to power around 110,000
average households.
Ohau B and C Twin stations Ohau B and C
were the last power stations in the Waitaki
hydro scheme to be commissioned, in 1984
and 1985 respectively. Their combined
generation capacity of 424MW is enough to
power around 185,000 average households.
Benmore When Benmore power station
was commissioned in 1965 it was the largest
dam in the Southern Hemisphere. Benmore’s
generation capacity of 540MW is enough to
power around 215,000 average households.
Aviemore Aviemore power station
was commissioned in 1968. It houses
New Zealand’s first artificial trout spawning
stream, allowing fish to reach spawning
grounds above the dam. Its generation
capacity of 220MW is enough to power
around 90,000 average households.
Waitaki The first power station on the
Waitaki river was built with picks and shovels
during the 1930s Depression. Commissioned
in 1935, Waitaki’s generation capacity of
90MW is enough to power around 47,000
average households.