New substation for Tauriko

The substation has ample capacity for further expansion in the Tauriko valley and is currently running at 25 per cent capacity

It isn't rocket science, more residential growth and an increasing population equals a need for more power.

Tauranga's rapidly expanding Tauriko industrial estate now has an enhanced electricity supply with the recent commissioning of a new substation.

The exponential growth of the estate and the neighbouring residential development in recent years placed considerable pressure on Powerco's existing network necessitating a $6m upgrade project.

That included the new substation and undergrounding a new feed to it from Transpower's grid exit point at Greerton.

Powerco's general manager of asset management and network transformation, Ryno Verster, says after some early challenges the project went to plan and was delivered on target.

'It ran to a tight timeline but our contractors, Northpower responded to the challenge,” he says.

The substation has ample capacity for further expansion in the Tauriko valley and was currently running at 25 per cent capacity.

'The two transformers will feed an 11,000 volt switchboard. Each has an independent 33kV feeder from Greerton which allows supply to continue if one transformer or its cable are out of action,” he says.

The Tauriko Business Estate is one of the biggest industrial parks in Australasia and comprises 200ha of developed lots.

The adjacent Lakes residential development of 1142 sections began in December 2012 and because of Tauranga's population growth is expected to be completed next year – eight years ahead of original estimates.

Powerco is New Zealand's second largest electricity utility and largest gas distribution utility with around 445,000 consumers connected to its networks.

Powerco's electricity networks are in Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Whanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay.

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1 comment

rocket???

Posted on 19-05-2018 14:16 | By Capt_Kaveman

built on a flood plain swamp valley with no roading infrastructure go figure


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