Ohau A is a power station operated by Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...

 in the South Island of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

.

It is located on the artificial Ohau canal. The dam is fed by water from Lake Ohau

Lake Ohau

Lake Ohau is a glacial lake in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand's South Island. It is fed by the Hopkins and Dobson rivers, which have their headwaters in the Southern Alps, and has its outflow in the Ohau River, which itself feeds into the Waitaki River hydroelectric project.Ohau is the smallest...

 and Lake Pukaki

Lake Pukaki

Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau...

 and spills into the artificial Lake Ruataniwha

Lake Ruataniwha

Lake Ruataniwha is located in the Mackenzie Basin in New Zealand's South Island. An artificial lake, it was formed as part of the Waitaki hydroelectric project....

.

Ohau A has a net head of 59 metres. It is part of the Waitaki hydro scheme which consists of eight power stations operated from a control centre near Twizel

Twizel

TwizelUrban AreaPopulation:1,000Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Mackenzie District CouncilPopulation:Mayor:Website:Extent:Regional councilName:Environment Canterbury...

. Construction of the power station commenced in 1971.

See also

• Ohau B
  Ohau B
  Ohau B is a power station operated by Meridian Energy in the South Island of New Zealand.It is a twin station with Ohau C and is part of the Waitaki hydro scheme which consists of eight power stations operated from a control centre near Twizel...
  
  
• Ohau C
  Ohau C
  Ohau C is a power station operated by Meridian Energy in the South Island of New Zealand.It is a twin station with Ohau B and is part of the Waitaki hydro scheme which consists of eight power stations operated from a control centre near Twizel...
  
  
• List of power stations in New Zealand
• Electricity sector in New Zealand
  Electricity sector in New Zealand
  The electricity sector in New Zealand uses mainly renewable energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. The 70% share of renewable energy sources makes New Zealand one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitting countries in terms of electricity generation....
  
  

External links

• Meridian Energy - power station information