ANDRITZ Hydro business division key visual

New Zealand, Aratiatia

New Zealand power company Migh­ty River Power has contracted ANDRITZ HYDRO to refurbish the Aratiatia hydropower station on the river Waikato on the North Island.

Aratiatia, a run-of-river station located 13 km upstream of Lake Taupo, is the first of nine hydropower plants with a combined installed capacity of 1,052 MW on the river Waikato, New Zealand’s longest. All nine plants have been owned and operated by Mighty River Power since 1999.

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Under the terms of the contract announced in December 2015, ANDRITZ HYDRO will design, deliver, install, and commission three generators, one Fran­cis runner including model test, and three turbine governors for HPP ­Aratiatia. The first unit is due to start commercial operation in 2018. Refurbishment of the plant, which was first commissioned in 1964, will result in a significant increase in efficiency and reliability.

The company, which also operates five geothermal power plants with total capacity of 334 MW, is a pure renewable energy producer following the closure of its 140 MW gas-fired power station at the end of 2014. Mighty River produces an average annual output of 6,800 GWh, representing 15–17% of New Zealand's national electricity supply. About 60% - an average of 4,000 GWh - is produced by its hydropower assets.

TECHNICAL DATA   

Output31.4 MW
35 MVA
Voltage11 kV
Head33.5 m
Speed136.4 rpm
Runner diameter3,831 mm

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