New Zealand’s Contact Energy has successfully connected its Te Huka Unit 3 geothermal power station to the nation’s power grid for the first time.

The station is operating at an initial 15 MW during a three-week testing phase, with plans to gradually ramp up to its full capacity of 51.4 MW by the end of 2024. Once fully operational, the facility will supply enough electricity to power around 60,000 homes.

The testing period is followed by formal generator compliance testing to ensure the power station meets Transpower’s system operator code requirements. If successful, Te Huka 3 will be fully integrated into New Zealand’s grid, further supporting the country’s renewable energy goals.

Announced in 2022, Te Huka 3 represents a significant milestone in geothermal energy development. The NZ$300 million facility is designed to be 100% carbon-neutral, utilizing a binary cycle process that captures geothermal energy and reinjects any potential emissions back into the reservoir.

“This marks a huge moment for the team at Te Huka 3,” said Mike Fuge, CEO of Contact Energy. “In just over two years, we’ve gone from breaking ground to nearly full operations, which is no small feat.”

Fuge also highlighted geothermal energy’s growing role in New Zealand’s shift away from fossil fuels. “It’s often been the unsung hero of power, but now it’s playing a crucial role in our energy transition.”

Te Huka 3 is the second geothermal facility that Contact Energy has brought online in 2024, following the Tauhara station’s commissioning in August.

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