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Top Energy awards contracts for construction of 28 MW Ngawha geothermal plant, NZ

Top Energy awards contracts for construction of 28 MW Ngawha geothermal plant, NZ Ngawha geothermal plant (source: Ormat)
Alexander Richter 11 Dec 2017

Top Energy has awarded contracts for the construction of the 28 MW expansion of the Ngawha geothermal power plant in the Northland on the Northern tip of New Zealand. With earthworks going to NZ-based company, drilling to an Icelandic geothermal drilling company and the plant EPC to Ormat Technologies.

In an official release this morning from New Zealand, North Island-based power company Top Energy has awarded necessary contracts for the construction of the 28 MW Ngawha geothermal power plant expansion.

Expansion of Top Energy’s Ngawha Geothermal Power Station will be one of the largest construction projects ever to be undertaken in the Far North.

With a total project value of NZ$176 million (US$121 million), Chief Executive Russell Shaw says the addition of the new 28 megawatt power station to existing operations, will be game changer for Northland.

Once completed in 2021, the capacity at the power station will be increased to 53 MW; which, Mr Shaw says, will radically improve the security and reliability of the power supply for the whole Northland region.

Contracts awarded:

  • Earthworks: United Civil – New Zealand
  • Drilling Contract: Iceland Drilling – Iceland
  • Power Plant EPC: Ormat Technologies – U.S.

United Civil is responsible for constructing the platform for the new power station, forming the drilling pads for the geothermal production well and reinjection of geothermal fluid back into the geothermal field, as well as other associated civil works.

Iceland Drilling, with decades of experience in the field of geothermal drilling, including the Ngatamariki geothermal power station near Taupo, will send a specialist team and be based in Northland for one year from April 2018.

Israeli geothermal plant construction experts Ormat have the contract to design, build and supply the power station which will commissioned in 2021.

Ormat has a long history with the operations at Ngawha supplying the original 10 megawatt power station, which was commissioned in June 1998 and then expanded to 25 megawatts in 2008.

With the expansion of the current Ngawha geothermal power plant from 25 MW to 53 MW, Top Energy expects to improve security and reliability of the power supply in the Northland, the most northern part of New Zealand on the North Island, while also reduce dependency on the National Grid.

“Ultimately, expansion of the Ngawha power station could secure the region’s energy independence with benefits for consumers by providing a renewable and lower cost source of generation and power,” so Top Energy chief Executive Russel Shaw in Radio New Zealand.

Source: Top Energy