Milestone reached in $90m Manapouri refurbishment

Major milestone reached in $90 million Manapouri refurbishment

A major milestone has been reached in the $90 million half-life refurbishment of the Manapouri Power Station.

The first of the power station’s seven generators has just been recommissioned after being fully refurbished and upgraded.

“This is an important step in this major programme, it means we are now generating more electricity out of every cubic metre of water going through the station,” says Alan Seay, spokesperson for Meridian Energy.

The half-life refurbishment is a huge project for Meridian Energy. It will see the 33 year old power station returned to an ‘as new’ condition.

“The programme is expected to increase the amount of electricity Manapouri produces each year by between 70 and 75 gigawatt hours – that’s enough energy to supply 7,500 homes for a year,” says Alan Seay.

So far, the refurbishment project has seen all generator transformers and isophase buses upgraded to higher capacity and refurbished. The generators are being fitted with new stators and turbines, which will increase output and increase efficiency.

“Work on the half life refurbishment will continue until late 2007, when the full efficiency gains will be realised,” concluded Alan Seay.

BACKGROUND

Manapouri Power Station is the largest hydro-power station in New Zealand. It is 180 metres underground and fed by Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri.

The Manapouri half-life refurbishment is a five year programme which is half way to completion. The total cost of the programme, which is due to be completed by late 2007, is $90 million.

Once the programme is complete, Manapouri Power Station will have a peak output of 850 megawatts.

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