Rotokawa is a 34 MW geothermal power plant in New Zealand, operated by Mercury Energy since 2000. Ranked #6 of 7 geothermal plants in New Zealand. Its 34 MW represents 5.11% 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 Rotokawa 4.1 times smaller. Within 50 km, the nearest plants are Maraetai (352 MW, Hydro), Nga Awa Purua (138 MW, Geothermal), and Wairakei (132 MW, Geothermal). The facility is located in the Waikato region, approximately 30 km northeast of Taupo.
26 years old
New Zealand, Oceania
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
New Zealand- Continent
- Oceania
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
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.
Help us improve our database by reporting any corrections or updates. Your contribution helps keep our global power plant data accurate and up-to-date.