Ormat partners with Eastland Generation to build geothermal plant

Israeli geothermal company Ormat Technologies has signed a $36m contract with Te Ahi O Maui partnership to set up a new geothermal power plant near Kawerau, New Zealand.

The Te Ahi O Maui partnership includes Eastland Generation and the Kawerau A8D Ahu Whenua Trust, who are owners of the land on which the Te Ahi O Maui plant will be built.

Ormat Technologies chief executive officer said: “New Zealand is an early pioneer in geothermal energy, and for the past forty years it has been the country with the most consistent policy support for geothermal energy.

“Ormat has been very active in New Zealand since the late 80’s, and we have installed our technology in 14 geothermal power plants covering over 350 MW.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Eastland Group, we look forward to share our technology, accumulated knowledge, and experience with our customer and to add to its portfolio another cost-effective and reliable power plant.”

The contract, signed under the supply, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, will see the deployment of air-cooled Ormat Energy Converter at the project site by Ormat.

A8D Trust owner and past-trustee and assistant to the project team Colleen Skerrett-White said: “We have measures in place so that Te Ahi O Maui will have minimal impact on the surrounding environment and its people. For example, our standards for environmental care go over and above Regional Council consent conditions.

“Our project team has worked really hard to ensure the project is executed in an environmentally friendly, sustainable and culturally appropriate way; Ormat will help us achieve this.”

According to Te Ahi O Maui project manager Ben Gibson the new geothermal power plant is expected deliver in excess of 22MW of electricity.

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Image: Ormat Technologies signs deal with Te Ahi O Maui to build a new geothermal power plant. Photo: courtesy of Eastland Group.

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Sources: http://www.ormat.com/news/latest-items/ormat-technologies-secures-36-million-supply-epc-contracts-geothermal-power-plant-
http://www.eastland.nz/2016/05/19/te-ahi-o-maui-signs-construction-deal-with-ormat/