Te Huka Unit 3
The Te Huka Unit 3 power station will be an additional unit at the existing Te Huka geothermal power station site on Centennial Drive in Taupō, New Zealand.
Geothermal energy is an unsung hero in New Zealand; it’s where we lead the world with our technology and ingenuity. It is an amazing resource and ideal for displacing baseload fossil fuel generation from the national grid.
Geothermal generation is not reliant on the weather. Like our other geothermal power stations, Te Huka Unit 3 will operate 24/7 and produce baseload electricity. Our geothermal power stations generate 95% of the time, much higher than solar, wind and hydro generation plants.
At the height of construction, this project is expected to generate 250 skilled construction jobs and spend over $140m in New Zealand, a significant portion will benefit the Taupō community.
This additional unit at Te Huka will generate an extra 1% of renewable electricity (or around 430 GWh), which is enough to power 60,000 homes. The plant is incorporating a novel design which will enable the carbon emissions from the project to be reinjected into the reservoir in the future. A trial of this is underway on Te Huka Unit 1 and 2 which will inform that ability to complete this.
The details:
- Location: Taupō, New Zealand
- Capacity: 51.4MW
- Annual generation: ~430 GWh p.a.
- Energy type: Geothermal
- Configuration: Binary plant (single flash steamfield)
- Completion date: Late 2024
- Investment: NZ$300m, $272m forward cash costs
- EPC contractor: Ormat