We hope the information below will answer most of your questions.

If you’d like to know more about the expansion project, provide feedback or have any questions or concerns, please use the details on our Contact us page to get in touch.

Construction

Initial earthworks began October 2017.

The Ngāwhā hot springs are not impacted by this project.
Construction of the power station was completed by August 2020. After a thorough  commissioning and testing programme to confirm that it operates as intended and all safety systems are proven, it started generating electricity in December 2020.

Ngawha Generation Ltd is expected to take over full operational responsibility for the new power station by March 2021.

  • Hours of Work, 7am – 7pm, 7 days a week except on Public Holidays.
  • While the well drilling operation (now completed) was 24/7, further night works are unlikely until commissioning starts in August 2020.

As most of the work is happening on Top Energy’s property you should not be adversely impacted by the construction. There will be a number of truck and trailer units required to transport metal, materials, and power station equipment to the site. This means that there will be increased heavy traffic along the selected routes of SH 1, SH 12 and Ngawha Springs Road during the project construction and close-down stages.

Whangarei company United Civil Construction.

Icelandic Drilling Limited.

Geothermal power plant construction experts ORMAT, who had built the previous two stages of the Ngawha development, are managing the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the power station. They will supervise the large number of local contractors required to assemble the power station equipment.

Whangarei based Culham Engineering.

A new substation and transmission line is being built. It involves installation of a building and electrical equipment off the main site entrance and overhead line over farmland through to Kaikohe. This is due to be wrapped up in April 2020.

A new control room has been built at the main site entrance.

Community benefits

Security of supply and reliability will be improved for the whole of the Northland region by making it less reliant on generation from the south and associated transmission through Auckland.

Increasing generation in the region (i.e. close to local demand) will reduce wholesale prices in the region relative to wholesale prices elsewhere, potentially reducing the price consumers pay.

Transmission charges are likely to be reduced and Top Energy is in discussion with the Electricity Authority (EA) about what transmission costs should be payable by our consumers once the power station comes online.

No. You will still buy your power from your electricity retailer. Top cannot be involved in retailing electricity to consumers on its network.

No. The Parahirahi Ngāwhā Waiariki Trust as katikati has a responsibility to ensure that the springs are maintained and developed so that future generations can enjoy their healing waters.