Tekapo B Power Station

Tekapo B Power Station
Tekapo B Power Plant pictured in autumn 2025
Interactive map of Tekapo B Power Station
CountryNew Zealand
LocationCanterbury
Coordinates44°07′21″S 170°12′43″E / 44.1225°S 170.212°E / -44.1225; 170.212
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1970 (1970)
OwnerGenesis Energy Limited[1]
Power Station
Commission date1977
TypeConventional
Turbines2
Installed capacity160 MW (210,000 hp)[1]
Annual generation833 GW·h

The Tekapo B Power Station is a hydroelectric facility on the eastern shore of Lake Pukaki in the Mackenzie Basin, Canterbury, New Zealand. It is driven by water from the Tekapo Canal from the Tekapo A Power Station. The power station is owned and operated by Genesis Energy Limited.

History

The station was built before the lake level of Lake Pukaki was raised as part of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectric scheme.[2] Construction on the Tekapo B Power Station lasted from 1970 to 1977.[1]

The plant was owned by Meridian Energy until 2011, when it was purchased by Genesis Energy Limited under the direction of the New Zealand Government.[3]

Technical details

Water is taken from the Tekapo Canal via penstocks.

The station features two generator units with an output of 80 megawatts (110,000 hp) each. It use Francis turbines.[2] Generated power is fed into the grid via an overhead line managed by Transpower New Zealand.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Tekapo Power Scheme", Genesis NZ, retrieved 6 September 2025
  2. ^ a b Discover the Waitaki Hydro Scheme (PDF), Meridian Energy, archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2022, retrieved 6 September 2025
  3. ^ "Genesis Energy set to acquire Tekapo A and B power stations", Genesis Energy, 13 May 2011, archived from the original on 13 October 2011, retrieved 6 September 2025