Wairakei— 132 MW Geothermal

Geothermal power generation utilises the Earth's internal heat to produce electricity. This renewable energy source is derived from the natural heat stored beneath the Earth's crust, which can be accessed through various technologies. The process typically involves drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs, where steam or hot water is brought to the surface. This steam drives turbines connected to generators, converting thermal energy into electrical power. There are three primary types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle plants. Dry steam plants directly use steam from geothermal reservoirs to turn turbines. Flash steam plants allow high-pressure hot water to 'flash' into steam when pressure is reduced, while binary cycle plants transfer heat from geothermal water to a secondary fluid with a lower boiling point, which then vaporises and drives the turbines.