38 | Richard Loader Power plant driving decarbonisation Contact Energy’s $880 million Tauhara geothermal power station will deliver 174MW of electricity into the national grid. Contact Energy: Tauhara Phase 2 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT to page 40 When commercially operational in the final quarter of this year, Contact Energy’s $880 million Tauhara geothermal power station in Taupo will be a significant contributor to New Zealand’s quest for decarbonisation. Delivering 174MW of electricity into the national grid, the environmental footprint of the geothermal power plant is substantially less than a similar fossil fuel power plant. This geothermal unit has very low carbon emission rate and will displace over 500,000 tonnes of carbon per year as fossil generation is taken out. Put in sharp perspective, that is equivalent to removing over 220,000 petrol cars from Kiwi roads each and every year. Tauhara is part of a bigger programme of large geothermal projects by Contact Energy, to drive the decarbonisation of New Zealand. Understanding the scale of the programme, and considering the strategic importance of doing it well, Contact Energy created a new division called ‘Major Projects’ to deliver the programme while bringing international best practices into the execution of the complex group of projects. Leading the new structure is Jack Ariel who brings 40 years’ experience in the energy and oil business, project management and supply chain management. Engaged by Contact Energy at the start of the construction phase of the Tauhara project in early 2021, Jack has the role of Major Projects Director and is a member of the Contact Energy leadership team. “It will produce enough to power 200,000 households — or 3.5% of New Zealand’s electricity requirements.” “The project has two main components,” explains Jack. “One is the power plant, which is where the generator and turbines are and where you generate the electricity. The other is the steam field, which is a series of interconnecting piping and vessels that transport and condition the steam coming from wells, located up to 6 km away, to the turbine.” Following an international tender process Sumitomo Corporation was contracted to deliver the power plant, partnering with Fuji Electric to supply the generator, turbines and the technology, while Contact Energy directly contracted the different components of the steam field required to feed the plant with geothermal steam. Warner Construction is proud to be associated with Contact Energy General Engineering • Pipeline Construction • Geothermal • Bolt Tensioning • Blast & Paint • Transport Services Waitara (Head Office) 06 754 8602 adam@warnerconstruction.co.nz 36 Norman St, Waitara, New Plymouth 4320 Taupo 07 376 5753 grant@warnerconstruction.co.nz 32 Manuka St, Tauhara, Taupo 3330 Bell Block 06 755 4504 adam@warnerconstruction.co.nz 65 De Havilland Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth 4312 www.warnerconstruction.co.nz
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