This is a list of power stations in New Zealand.
Geothermal
Hydro
Wind
The list is not exhaustive – only power stations over 0.5 MW and significant power stations below 0.5 MW are listed.
Power plants in New Zealand have different generating roles – for baseload, intermediate or peaking. Baseload generators are those that run continuously (except for maintenance), and include all geothermal and run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants, which must 'use it or lose it'. Intermediate generators are load-following power plants. Peaking power plants generate only for minutes or hours at a time, during the sharpest peaks in electricity demand.[2] Nuclear power is not used in New Zealand.
Name | Territorial authority | Coordinates | Type | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Operator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greenmount Landfill | Auckland (Howick) | Biogas | 5.5 | 1992 | Envirowaste / Mighty River Power[3] | |
Kinleith | South Waikato | Wood cogeneration | 40 | 1997 | Oji Fibre Solutions | |
Omarunui | Hastings | Biogas | 1 | 2014 | LMS Energy / Hastings District Council | |
Pan Pac | Hastings | Wood cogeneration | 12.8 | 2005 | Pan Pac Forest Products | |
Rosedale | Auckland (Upper Harbour) | Biogas | 2.8 | 1992 | Mercury Energy | |
Silverstream Landfill | Lower Hutt | Biogas | 2.7 | 1994 | LMS Energy | |
Southern Landfill | Wellington | Biogas | 1.1 | LMS Energy | ||
Tirohia | Hauraki | Biogas | 2.0 | 2008 | Mercury Energy | |
Redvale Landfill and Energy Park | Auckland (Upper Harbour) | Biogas | 12 | 1993 | Waste Management | |
Waipa MIll (Red Stag Timber) | Rotorua | Wood cogeneration | 10 | |||
Kate Valley Landfill | Hurunui | Biogas | 4.3 | 2014 | Transwaste |
Source:[7]
Name | Location | Type | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Last Operator | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bullendale | Queenstown | 2 Pelton wheels | 0.04 | 1886 | 1907 | Phoenix Mine | First industrial generation in NZ |
Okere Falls | north-east of Rotorua | 0.2 | 1901 | 1936 | NZ Government | First power station owned by government. Dismantled in 1941 | |
One Mile Creek | Queenstown | 1 Pelton wheel | 0.06 | 1924 | 1966 | Otago Central Electric Power Board | Decommissioned but restored as heritage exhibit in 2005 |
Horahora | east of Cambridge, Waikato | 10.3 | 1913 | 1947 | State Hydro Department | Drowned by formation of Lake Karapiro | |
Reefton | Reefton, West Coast | <1 | 1888 | 1949 | Grey Electric Power Board | Demolished | |
Wye Creek | Otago-Southland | 1.3 | 1936 | 2008 | Pioneer Energy | Mothballed after turbine/generator failure | |
Havelock North | Maraetotara Valley | 0.18 (250 hp) | 1922 | 1941 | Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board | Dam used as popular swimming spot.
Decommissioned due to lightning strike damage. |
Name | Location | Type | Output | Commissioned | Operator | Purpose | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mokopeka | Maraetotara Valley, Hawke's Bay | Private | 8KW at 110V DC | 1891 | John Chambers | Farming tools, heating and cooking for nearby homesteads | Believed to be the oldest hydro electric power station in the world that still operates. Currently maintained by volunteers.
Was never connected to national grid. |
Name | Coordinates | Territorial authority | Type | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Closed/ decommissioning date | Operator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auckland Hospital | Auckland (Waitemata) | Gas/Diesel cogeneration | 3.6 | 2005 | Auckland DHB / Pioneer Energy | ||
Bream Bay | Whangarei | Diesel recip engine | 9 | 2011 | Manawa Energy | ||
Edgecumbe | Whakatane | Gas cogeneration | 10 | 1996 | Nova Energy | ||
Evans Bay | Wellington | Coal steam turbine | 23 | 1924 | 1968 | Wellington MED | |
Glenbrook | Auckland (Franklin) | Coal/Gas waste heat | 112 | 1997 | Alinta | ||
Junction Road | Taranaki | Gas | 100 | 2020 [8] | Nova Energy | ||
Huntly 1,2, &4 | 37°32′40″S 175°09′01″E / 37.544475°S 175.150412°E / -37.544475; 175.150412 (Huntly 1-4 coal/gas-fired power station) | Waikato | Coal/Gas steam turbine | 750 | 1983 | Genesis Energy | |
Huntly 3 | 37°32′40″S 175°09′01″E / 37.544475°S 175.150412°E / -37.544475; 175.150412 (Huntly 1-4 coal/gas-fired power station) | Waikato | Coal/Gas steam turbine | 250 | 1983 | 2012 | Genesis Energy |
Huntly 5 | 37°32′35″S 175°08′57″E / 37.543046°S 175.149103°E / -37.543046; 175.149103 (Huntly 5 gas-fired power station) | Waikato | Gas combined-cycle | 400 | 2007 | Genesis Energy | |
Huntly 6 | 37°32′38″S 175°08′53″E / 37.543982°S 175.14814°E / -37.543982; 175.14814 (Huntly 6 gas-fired power station) | Waikato | Gas/Diesel open-cycle | 50 | 2004 | Genesis Energy | |
Kapuni | South Taranaki | Gas combined-cycle cogeneration | 25 | 1998 | Vector / Bay of Plenty Energy | ||
Kawerau (TPP) | Kawerau | Gas cogeneration | 37 | 1966 | Tasman Pulp and Paper | ||
Kinleith | South Waikato | Wood/Gas cogeneration | 40 | 1998 | Genesis Energy | ||
Kings Wharf | Auckland (Waitemata) | Coal steam turbine | 10.5 | 1913 | 1968 | Auckland EPB | |
Mangahewa | New Plymouth | Gas | 9.0 | 2008 | Nova Energy | ||
Marsden A | Whangarei | Oil | 240 | 1967 | 1997 | ECNZ | |
Marsden B | Whangarei | Oil | 250 | never commissioned | ECNZ | ||
McKee (recip) | New Plymouth | Gas reciprocating | 2.0 | 2008 | Nova Energy | ||
McKee (turbine) | New Plymouth | Gas open-cycle | 100 | 2013 | Todd Generation | ||
Meremere | Waikato | Coal steam turbine | 210 | 1958 | 1991 | ECNZ | |
New Plymouth | New Plymouth | Gas/Oil steam turbine | 600 | 1974 | 2008 | Contact Energy | |
Otahuhu A | Auckland (Otara-Papatoetoe) | Gas open cycle | 1968 | late 1990s | Contact Energy | ||
Otahuhu B | Auckland (Otara-Papatoetoe) | Gas combined cycle | 404 | 2000 | 2015 | Contact Energy | |
Palmerston North[9] | Palmerston North | Town Gas/Diesel reciprocating | 2 | 1924 | 1992 | Palmerston North MED | |
QE2 Park | Christchurch | Diesel recip engine | 4 | 2011-2 | Orion New Zealand | ||
Southdown | 36°55′39″S 174°49′38″E / 36.927563°S 174.827328°E / -36.927563; 174.827328 (Southdown cogeneration power station) | Auckland (Maungakiekie-Tamaki) | Gas combined-cycle cogeneration | 170 | 1997 | 2015 | Mercury Energy |
Springlands[10] | Marlborough | Diesel reciprocating | 1.5 | 1930 | 2003 | Marlborough Lines | |
Stratford CC | 39°19′56″S 174°19′8″E / 39.33222°S 174.31889°E / -39.33222; 174.31889 (Stratford gas-fired power station) | Stratford | Gas combined-cycle | 377 | 1998 | Contact Energy | |
Stratford peaker | 39°19′56″S 174°19′8″E / 39.33222°S 174.31889°E / -39.33222; 174.31889 (Stratford gas-fired power station) | Stratford | Gas open-cycle | 200 | 2010 | Contact Energy | |
Te Awamutu | Waipa | Gas turbine | 54 | 1995 | 2007 | Genesis Energy | |
Te Rapa | 37°42′59″S 175°13′0″E / 37.71639°S 175.21667°E / -37.71639; 175.21667 (Te Rapa cogeneration power station) | Hamilton | Gas cogeneration | 44 | 1999 | Contact Energy | |
Wellington Hospital | Wellington | Gas/Oil cogeneration | 8 | 1981 | Capital & Coast DHB / Vector / Meridian Energy | ||
Whareroa | South Taranaki | Gas combined-cycle cogeneration | 69.6 | 1996 | Fonterra / Todd Energy | ||
Whirinaki | 39°22′59″S 176°53′16″E / 39.38306°S 176.88778°E / -39.38306; 176.88778 (Whirinaki diesel-fired power station) | Hastings | Diesel open-cycle | 155 | 2004 | Contact Energy |
Source:[7]
Name | Territorial authority | Coordinates | Number of Inverters | Capacity (MWpDC) | Capacity (MWAC) | Commissioned | Closed | Operator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wairau Valley Solar Farm[16] | Marlborough | 41°36′31″S 173°25′50″E / 41.60874°S 173.43056°E / -41.60874; 173.43056 (Wairau Valley solar farm) | 1 | 2 | 2021 | Kea Energy | ||
Kapuni Solar Plant[17] | South Taranaki | Not Stated | 2.1[18] | 2021 | Sunergise | |||
Kaitaia Solar Farm[19] | Northland | 6 | 32 | 23 | Began 2023 | Lodestone Energy | ||
Te Ihi o te Ra Solar Farm | Gisborne | 5.2 | 2023 | Eastland Generation | ||||
Rangitaiki | Edgecumbe | 32 | 2024 | Lodestone Energy |
Name | Territorial authority | Coordinates | Type | Capacity (MW/MWh) | Commissioned | Operator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glen Innes | Auckland (Manugakiekie-Tamaki) | Tesla Powerpack | 1.0/2.3 | 2016 | Vector | |
Hobsonville Point | Auckland (Upper Harbour) | Tesla Powerpack | 1.0/2.3 | 2018 | Vector | |
Rotohiko | Waikato | Saft (company) | 35/33 | 2023 | WEL Networks | |
Snells Beach | Auckland (Rodney) | 2.75/6.7 | 2018 | Vector | ||
Warkworth South | Auckland (Rodney) | 2.0/4.8 | 2018 | Vector | ||
Whangamata (CBD standby power) | Thames-Coromandel | 2.0/2.0 | 2020 | Powerco |
Name | Location | Type | Planned Capacity (MW) |
Operator | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awhitu | near Waiuku, Auckland | Wind | 15 | Private Operator | 2MW under construction | [14][20] |
Castle Hill | northeast of Masterton | Wind | 300 | Genesis Energy Limited | consented - seeking extension | [14][21][22] |
Edgecumbe Solar Farm | Edgecumbe | Solar | 38 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | [23] |
Foxton Solar Farm | Foxton | Solar | 42 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | [24] |
Huriwaka (prev. Central Wind)(Moawhango) | between Taihape and Waiouru | Wind | 230 (prev. 130) | Manawa Energy | Previously Meridian Energy, consents lapsed, re-consenting underway with new developer Manawa Energy | [14] |
Geofutures - Te Mihi Unit 3 | Taupō | Geothermal | 168 | Contact Energy | consented - replaces Wairakei A & B legacy power stations | [25] |
Glenbrook Battery | Glenbrook | Battery | 100 | Contact Energy | under construction | [26] |
Harapaki | Hawkes Bay | Wind | 176 | Meridian Energy | under construction | [27] |
Hauauru ma raki | Waikato coast | Wind | 504 | Contact Energy | consents lapsed | [14] |
Hurunui | North Canterbury | Wind | 76 | Meridian Energy | consents lapsed | [14][28] |
Kaimai Wind Farm | northern Kaimai Range | Wind | 168 | Ventus Energy | applied for consent | [29] |
Kaiwaikawe | Dargaville | Wind | 74 | Mercury Energy | consented | [30] |
Kawerau TOPP2 | Kawerau | Geothermal | 50 | Eastland | Under construction. Joint venture Eastland and Ormat. First power late 2025 | |
Kaiwera Downs | south-east of Gore, Southland | Wind | 196 | Mercury Energy | Stage 2 - 196MW - under construction - first power mid-2026 - completion mid-2027 | [14] |
Lauriston Solar Farm | Lauriston, Canterbury | Solar | 52 | Genesis Energy, FRV Australia | consented - under construction | [31] |
Lodestone One | Dargaville | Solar | 80 | Lodestone Energy | consented | [32] |
Te Herenga o Te Rā | Edgecumbe | Solar | 32 | Lodestone Energy | under construction - first power late 2024 | [33][32] |
Lodestone Five | Whitianga | Solar | 34 | Lodestone Energy | consented | [32] |
Pukaki Intake | near Twizel, Canterbury | Hydro | 35 | Meridian Energy | consents lapsed | [34] |
Mahinerangi stage 2 | Lake Mahinerangi, west of Dunedin | Wind | 164 | Mercury Energy | consented | [14] |
Marsden Point | Northland | Solar | 26.7 | Refining NZ | [35] | |
Mount Munro | Eketahuna | Wind | 90 | Meridian Energy | applied for consent | [36] |
Rangiriri | Waikato | Solar | 146 | Island Green Power | in development | [37] |
Ruakākā Battery Storage | Northland | Battery | 100 | Meridian Energy | under construction | [38] |
Ruakākā Solar Farm | Northland | Solar | 130 | Meridian Energy | seeking consents | |
Mount Cass | Canterbury | Wind | 93 | MainPower | consented | [39] |
Ngakawau | West Coast | Hydro | 24 | Hydro Developments | Consents expire 2026 | [34] |
Ngatamariki OEC5 | Taupō | Geothermal | 46 | Mercury Energy | consented - construction starts early 2024
first power late 2025 |
[40] |
Ngawha OEC5 | Kaikohe | Geothermal | 32 | Top Energy | consented | [41] |
Onslow | Otago | Pumped hydro | 1200 | New Zealand Government | detailed investigation; cancelled after change of government | [42][43] |
Pukenui | Te Aupōuri peninsula | Solar | 22 | Far North Solar Farm | under construction | [44][45] |
Puketoi | Manawatu | Wind | 228 | Mercury Energy | consents expire 2031 | [46] |
Rakaia River | Canterbury | Hydro | 16 | Ashburton Community Water Trust | consented | |
Rangitaiki | Taupō | Solar | 400 | Nova Energy | consented | [47] |
Rototuna | Northland | Wind | 500 | Meridian Energy | ||
Slopedown | east of Gore, Southland | Wind | 150 | Genesis Energy Limited | [48] | |
Taheke | Okere Falls, Rotoiti | Geothermal | 35 | Eastland | applied for consent. Joint application with iwi land incorporation Taheke 8C | |
Taumatatotara | 10 km south of Taharoa | Wind | 92 | Ventus Energy | consented stage 1 (seeking amendment for stage 2 tip height of up to 180m) | [29] |
Te Huka Unit 3 | Taupō | Geothermal | 51.4 | Contact Energy | under construction. first power late 2024 | [49] |
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm re-power | Palmerston North / Tararua | Wind | 126 | NZ Windfarms-Meridian | replace Windflow 91x500 kW with 30x4.2 MW turbines raising wind farm capacity to 126 MW | |
Tory Channel | Marlborough | Tidal | 10 | Energy Pacifica | ||
Upper Kaituna | Bay of Plenty | Hydro | 14 | Bay of Plenty Energy | concession granted. project not being pursued | |
Waitahe Solar Farm | Waiotahe | Solar | 81 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | [50] |
Waiinu Energy Park | Taranaki | Wind/Solar/
Battery |
350 Wind
550 Solar |
Meridian | seeking fast track consent | |
Waerenga | Waikato | Solar | 190 | Island Green Power | in development | [51] |
Waikato Power Station | Tihiroa, Waikato | Gas | 360 | Todd Generation | consented (expires 2027) | [52] |
Western Bay Solar Project | Kuratau | Solar | 500 | Meridian | seeking fast track consent |
Source:[14]