Whakamaru Power Station
Encyclopedia
Whakamaru Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River
, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was the fourth hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River to be installed.
Whakamaru is one of the larger generators currently operating on the Waikato river and is also home to the main switching grid which handles the electricity from the upper Waikato power stations and supplies the transmission lines north to Otahuhu in the north and Bunnythorpe in the south.
Whakamaru is currently operated by state-owned electricity generator Mighty River Power.
which at the time was the operational centre of the Waikato hydroelectric scheme.
Firstly a diversion channel 259 metres long, 31 metres deep and 7 metres wide was constructed and took 3 years to complete.
The foundation rock turned out to be deeply cracked and filled with clays rendering it partially porous. Shafts were sunk into the rock and this allowed the clay to be cleared and cement grout was later forced into the rock which was then back-filled with concrete.
, Hawke's Bay
, Manawatu and Hamililton
, but by far the largest distribution route is to New Zealand's largest city, Auckland
, approximately 200 km to the north - three 220 kV circuits connect Whakamaru directly to the Otahuhu Power Station in southern Auckland, with an additional circuit serving Otahuhu via Hamilton.
Whakamaru is the southern terminus of the under-construction Whakamaru to Brownhill Road transmission line
, a controversial 220/400 kV overhead line to Brownhill Road switching station in southeastern Auckland, connecting to Pakuranga substation and in future Otahuhu substation via underground cables from Brownhill Road. A separate switching station, dubbed Whakamaru North, will be built alongside the current substation, connecting the new line to the existing substation.
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was the fourth hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River to be installed.
Whakamaru is one of the larger generators currently operating on the Waikato river and is also home to the main switching grid which handles the electricity from the upper Waikato power stations and supplies the transmission lines north to Otahuhu in the north and Bunnythorpe in the south.
Whakamaru is currently operated by state-owned electricity generator Mighty River Power.
History
Development work started in 1949 with the construction on 10KM of road from MangakinoMangakino
Mangakino is a small town on the banks of the Waikato River in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the hydroelectric power station at Lake Maraetai, southeast of Hamilton. Its population in 2001 was 1257...
which at the time was the operational centre of the Waikato hydroelectric scheme.
Firstly a diversion channel 259 metres long, 31 metres deep and 7 metres wide was constructed and took 3 years to complete.
The foundation rock turned out to be deeply cracked and filled with clays rendering it partially porous. Shafts were sunk into the rock and this allowed the clay to be cleared and cement grout was later forced into the rock which was then back-filled with concrete.
Transmission
Whakamaru is the major switching point for electricity in the North Island electricity grid. Electricity generated by Whakamaru, as well as the other five Waikato hydroelecitric power stations, and from the three geothermal powerstation in the area converges at the Whakamaru substation on the western side of the dam. Power from Whakamaru is then distributed via 220 kV to the Bay of PlentyBay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
, Manawatu and Hamililton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, but by far the largest distribution route is to New Zealand's largest city, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, approximately 200 km to the north - three 220 kV circuits connect Whakamaru directly to the Otahuhu Power Station in southern Auckland, with an additional circuit serving Otahuhu via Hamilton.
Whakamaru is the southern terminus of the under-construction Whakamaru to Brownhill Road transmission line
Whakamaru to Brownhill Road transmission line
The Whakamaru to Brownhill Road transmission line is an under construction double-circuit 400 kV transmission line between the southern Waikato and the city of Auckland...
, a controversial 220/400 kV overhead line to Brownhill Road switching station in southeastern Auckland, connecting to Pakuranga substation and in future Otahuhu substation via underground cables from Brownhill Road. A separate switching station, dubbed Whakamaru North, will be built alongside the current substation, connecting the new line to the existing substation.
External links
- The Whakamaru Power Station (official website from Mighty River Power)