Whakamaru to Brownhill Road transmission line
Encyclopedia
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
. The line will run from the Whakamaru sub-station at the Whakamaru Power Station
, over a distance of 186 kilometres (115.6 mi) to the new Brownhill Road switching station near Whitford
, southeastern Auckland, where underground cables will link the line to the Pakuranga
sub-station in eastern Auckland. Construction on the line started in February 2010, and the line is due to be completed in April 2012.
The line is designed to increase electrical supply and security to Auckland and Northland. The population of Auckland is growing, and is expected to reach 1.5 million inhabitants in the next few years. There are very few power stations north of Auckland, which means the city and Northland must draw their electricity requirements from the south - especially from the hydroelectric power stations on the Waikato River
and the dual-fuelled Huntly Power Station
. The line will increase the supply to Auckland, from the Waikato hydro stations, and take the load off the existing 220 kV lines. Currently, all transmission lines into Auckland converge on Otahuhu substation, creating a pinchpoint in the security of supply to Auckland and Northland - the new line will supply power to the Pakuranga substation instead, creating redundancy in Auckland's electricity supply.
The line will be built for 400 kV operation, but will initially operate at 220 kV. In the future, 220/400 kV electrical transformers at Whakamaru and Brownhill Road, and additional underground cables to Otahuhu substation will allow 400 kV operation.
The line has met strong protest in the investigation and design, especially with plans to install electricity pylons up to 70 metres (229.7 ft) in height, and locals living near the proposed route protesting against the devaluation of their land.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
and the city of 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...
. The line will run from the Whakamaru sub-station at the Whakamaru Power Station
Whakamaru Power Station
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....
, over a distance of 186 kilometres (115.6 mi) to the new Brownhill Road switching station near Whitford
Whitford, New Zealand
Whitford is a suburb southeast of central Auckland, in Manukau City, New Zealand. There are multiple versions of how the town was named. It may be named after Richard Whitford, a man who operated a flax mill on the Waikopua near Housons Creek and was the postman...
, southeastern Auckland, where underground cables will link the line to the Pakuranga
Pakuranga
Pakuranga is an eastern suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. Pakuranga covers a series of low ridges and previously swampy flats, now drained, that lie between the Pakuranga Creek and Tamaki River, two estuarial arms of the Hauraki Gulf...
sub-station in eastern Auckland. Construction on the line started in February 2010, and the line is due to be completed in April 2012.
The line is designed to increase electrical supply and security to Auckland and Northland. The population of Auckland is growing, and is expected to reach 1.5 million inhabitants in the next few years. There are very few power stations north of Auckland, which means the city and Northland must draw their electricity requirements from the south - especially from the hydroelectric power stations on the Waikato River
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...
and the dual-fuelled Huntly Power Station
Huntly power station
The Huntly Power Station is the largest thermal power station in New Zealand and is located in the town of Huntly in the Waikato. It is operated by Genesis Power, a state-owned enterprise, and supplies around 17% of the country's power.-Generation:...
. The line will increase the supply to Auckland, from the Waikato hydro stations, and take the load off the existing 220 kV lines. Currently, all transmission lines into Auckland converge on Otahuhu substation, creating a pinchpoint in the security of supply to Auckland and Northland - the new line will supply power to the Pakuranga substation instead, creating redundancy in Auckland's electricity supply.
The line will be built for 400 kV operation, but will initially operate at 220 kV. In the future, 220/400 kV electrical transformers at Whakamaru and Brownhill Road, and additional underground cables to Otahuhu substation will allow 400 kV operation.
The line has met strong protest in the investigation and design, especially with plans to install electricity pylons up to 70 metres (229.7 ft) in height, and locals living near the proposed route protesting against the devaluation of their land.