Kawerau is a 100 MW geothermal power plant in New Zealand, operated by Mercury Energy since 2008. Ranked #5 of 7 geothermal plants in New Zealand. Its 100 MW represents 15.02% of New Zealand's total geothermal capacity of 666 MW. The largest geothermal plant in New Zealand is Nga Awa Purua at 138 MW, making Kawerau 0.72 times larger. Within 50 km, the nearest plant is Matahina (60 MW, Hydro). The facility is located in the Bay of Plenty region, approximately 30 km southeast of Tauranga.
18 years old
New Zealand, Oceania
Location
Zero Direct Emissions
Kawerau is a geothermal power plant producing approximately 701 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.
Lifecycle emissions: ~38 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)
Technical Details
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
New Zealand- Continent
- Oceania
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Nearby Power Plants
Understanding Geothermal Power Generation: An Overview
Geothermal power generation harnesses the Earth's internal heat to produce electricity. This renewable energy source exploits the thermal energy stored beneath the Earth's crust, which can be accessed through geothermal power plants. These plants typically utilize steam or hot water from geothermal reservoirs to drive turbines that generate electricity. The process begins by drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs, often located in tectonically active regions, where the temperature gradient is favorable for energy extraction. The steam or hot water extracted is then channeled to turbines, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by generators.
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