Mangahao Power Station

Mangahao Power Station is a hydroelectric power station near the town of Shannon, New Zealand. After being delayed by war, access road construction and foundation testing was started by late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.[1][2] It makes use of the Mangahao River, through a series of tunnels and pipelines totalling 4.8 kilometers in the Tararua Ranges. It is jointly owned and operated by Todd Energy and King Country Energy.[1][2]

Mangahao Power Station
Mangahao hydro in 2013
CountryNew Zealand
LocationManawatū-Whanganui
Coordinates40°34′36″S 175°27′1″E
StatusOperational
Construction began1919
Commission dateNovember 1924
Owner(s)Trustpower, King Country Energy
Thermal power station
Primary fuelHydroelectric
Power generation
Units operational3 (1 x Francis, 2 x Pelton)
Nameplate capacity38 MW (51,000 hp)
Designated5 September 1985
Reference no.4066
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons


Mangahao Hydro Electric Power Station opening (3 November 1924)

History

When commissioned, Mangahao Power Station had cost £1,493,456,[3] caused the deaths of 8 tunnellers from carbon monoxide poisoning,[4] an explosion[5] and crushing,[6] and was the main power station serving the lower North Island, with transmission lines connecting Mangahao with Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Masterton, Napier and Hastings. The power station was connected through to the Waikaremoana hydro scheme in 1929 and through to Arapuni Dam in 1934, forming the basis of the North Island transmission grid.[1]

Mangahao was officially opened by the Prime Minister, William Massey, on 3 November 1924. It was one of his last public duties before he died. Supply expanded as transmission equipment was built -

  • 3 mi (4.8 km) to Shannon in November 1924 for Horowhenua Power Board on 3 November 1924, replacing a steam plant.
  • Manawatu-Oroua Power Board 19 December 1924.
  • Wellington, Hutt Valley, Khandallah substation and an 11kV line to Bunnythorpe - Hutt Valley Power Board night supply 24 December 1925, full supply 10 March 1925.
  • Supply for testing to Wellington City Council 26 March. Their Evans Bay steam plant assisted with peak-reduction and supplied some power back to Khandallah substation.
  • Bunnythorpe 110kV) line and substation March 1925
  • Bunnythorpe-Woodville 6 April 1925 for Central Hawke's Bay Power Board
  • Woodville-Mangamaire line and substation 7 April 1925 for Tararua Power Board
  • Mangamaire-Masterton line and substation 17 May 1925 for Wairarapa Power Board
  • Woodville-Dannevirke line and substation 19 May 1925 for Dannevirke Power Board
  • Woodville switching-station 6 April 1925
  • Wellington Meat Export Company 1925.[3]

The scheme was first considered by Peter Seton Hay and developed by Frederick Kissel.[1] Earthquake strengthening was done in 1983 and 2015.[7] In 2004[8] the original two smaller generating sets were replaced by a 26 MW (35,000 hp) Francis turbine unit and, with upgrades, the station capacity is now 38 MW (51,000 hp).[1]

References
  1. "Mangahao Power Station". IPENZ Engineering Heritage. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  2. "Mangahao Hydro". Todd Energy. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  3. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1925-I.2.2.3.1. Retrieved 24 January 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Terrible Tunnel Tragedy At Mangahao Works SHANNON NEWS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 July 1922. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  5. "FATALITY AT MANGAHAO. MANAWATU STANDARD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 August 1921. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. "TUNNEL FATALITY. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 August 1923. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. "Mangahao Hydroelectric Power Station". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  8. "2011 NZ Generation Data Update" (PDF). Ministry of Economic Development. 26 January 2012.

Further reading
  • Martin, John E, ed. (1991). People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 – 1990. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. ISBN 0-908912-16-1.
  • Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country: New Zealand’s National Grid 1886 - 2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN 978-1-877448-40-9.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.