| Abstract |
Following the deregulation of the New Zealand electricity industry, several medium and small sized projects have started their operation. The Mokai Geothermal Project is the largest privately developed geothermal project in New Zealand. The 60 MW development has been undertaken by, the Tuaropaki Trust in Taupo / New Zealand. The Trust, who owns the majority of the land at Mokai, operates its project through its wholly owned project company the Tuaropaki Power Company. The power plant uses the geothermal fluid captured from the production wells and reinjects the full capacity into the reinjection wells. The plant utilises steam turbine and binary turbine technology to obtain the maximum energy from the resource with minimal environmental impact. The electricity generated is delivered via a 20 km, 110 kV line to the Whakamaru national grid substation and is sold in to the national pool. Financing of the development was undertaken on a non-recourse and long-term basis by a group of financing institutions with Westpac Banking Corporation acting as leader. During the first 12 months of operation the power plant has generated an average output of above 58 MW with an availability of above 97%. |