Waipapa Power Station

38°17′31″S 175°41′1″E / 38.29194°S 175.68361°E / -38.29194; 175.68361PurposePowerStatusOperationalOpening date1961Dam and spillwaysImpoundsWaikato RiverWaipapa Power StationOperator(s)Mercury EnergyCommission date1961Turbines3 Kaplan turbines^[1]Installed capacity54 MWAnnual generation330 GWh^[2]

Waipapa Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the sixth hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. It is the smallest power station on the Waikato River.^[3]

Waipapa is operated by the publicly listed company Mercury Energy, an electricity generation and retail company.

History

Although this site was initially considered in 1943, the decision to proceed with hydro development was not made until 1953. Construction began in 1955 and the first electricity was generated in April 1961. In 2001, the turbines were refurbished to improve operational efficiency.^[4]

References

Further reading

• Martin, John E, ed. (1991). People, Power and Power Stations. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. pp. 316 pages. ISBN 0-908912-16-1.
• Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country – New Zealand's National Grid 1886 - 2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN 978-1-877448-40-9.

External links

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