World Power Plants

Ohaaki is a 122 MW geothermal power plant located in New Zealand, operated by Contact Energy. Commissioned in 1984, it contributes to the country's renewable energy portfolio. This facility ranks as the 3rd largest geothermal plant in New Zealand. With a capacity of 122 MW, it represents 18.32% of New Zealand's total geothermal capacity of 666 MW. The country has 7 geothermal plants with a combined capacity of 666 MW, while the largest geothermal facility, Nga Awa Purua, has a capacity of 138 MW, making Ohaaki approximately 88% the size of that plant. Geothermal energy is a significant resource for New Zealand, providing around 17% of the country's total electricity generation. The unique geothermal features in the Taupo Volcanic Zone facilitate this energy source. The plant is located in the Waikato region, approximately 40 km from Rotorua.

Capacity
122 MW
Commissioning Year
1984

42 years old

Owner
Contact Energy
Location
-38.5279°, 176.2937°

New Zealand, Oceania

Context & rankings
  • 15. largest of 43 plants in New Zealand
  • #9,191 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #31 of 215 Geothermal plants worldwide
  • 1.83% of the installed capacity of New Zealand
Age & fleet comparison

42 years in operation

Geothermal fleet average: 26.9 years

Operator portfolio

Contact Energy operates 6 plants totalling 913 MW

Regional density

16 plants within 100 km, 1,714 MW combined

Nearest plant: Rotokawa (12.8 km)

Data provenance

Location

Coordinates:: -38.527900, 176.293700
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Carbon Footprint

Zero Direct Emissions

Ohaaki is a geothermal power plant producing approximately 855 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

New ZealandEnergy Profile

43
Total Plants
6.7 GW
Total Capacity
HydroGeothermalGasCoal
Top Fuels

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