Contact Energy wins top prize at energy excellence awards 

Contact Energy has won a major energy excellence award for the completion of a programme which has made the Wairakei field the seventh-largest geothermal generation site in the world. 
 
The Energy Project of the Year was awarded for Contact Energy’s Wairakei Investment Programme at last night’s Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards, recognising energy projects that have been planned and executed with excellence, and are seen to deliver significant benefits to stakeholders and the community. 
 
The opening of the $623m Te Mihi Uenukukopako Power Station (Te Mihi) in August last year marked the completion of the Wairakei Investment Programme, which included the development of an award-winning bioreactor that reduces the amount of hydrogen sulphide entering the Waikato River, the expansion of the Wairakei steamfield, and drilling of new wells. 
 
Contact Energy Chief Executive Dennis Barnes said that winning the award was a satisfying end to the seven-year programme. 
 
“Contact Energy has invested a significant amount of time and energy into delivering this project, and the award is a fantastic way to acknowledge the hard work of those involved. 
 
“With over 90 wells and 100 kilometres of piping, Contact Energy can now deliver enough energy to power 400,000 New Zealand homes.” 
 
Te Mihi, situated in the tribal rohe of Ngati Tuwharetoa, employed more than 600 people at the peak of construction, had contributed over $60 million into New Zealand’s economy already, and would offer ongoing employment through its future operation and maintenance. It has also worked to support the ongoing relationship that Contact values with Ngati Tuwharetoa. 
 
Careful planning and flexible design ensured minimal disruption to Contact’s existing stations while robust health and safety management achieved a period of more than two million work hours injury-free.  
 
Contact Energy beat King Country Energy and Transpower to win the top award.  
 
“While we acknowledge the great work being done by other companies, we are delighted to be recognised as a leader in the industry that is committed to the efficient production of electricity for our communities for years to come.”  
 
The awards night was held on Wednesday 12 August, at the Langham Hotel in Auckland. Now in its sixth year, the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards recognize excellence and achievement across the electricity, oil, gas and petroleum industries.  
 
Renewable generation is on the rise in New Zealand, and accounted for close to 80% of total electricity generated in 2014. Since 2010 Contact has invested in new renewable generation in the form of the Te Huka and Te Mihi geothermal power stations.