The Arnold Power Station is a
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...
facility fed from
Lake Brunner
Lake Brunner ( mi, Kōtuku Moana or ) is the largest lake in the West Coast Region of New Zealand, located southeast of Greymouth. The main settlement, Moana, New Zealand, Moana, is on its northern shore. It is an important settlement and ways ...
on the
Arnold River Arnold River may refer to:
* Arnold River (Northern Territory), a tributary of the Hodgson River in Australia
* Arnold River (New Zealand), a tributary of the Grey River
*Arnold River (Saskatchewan) Arnold River may refer to:
*Arnold River (Northern ...
in
West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to:
Geography Australia
* Western Australia
*Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia
* West Coast, Tasmania
**West Coast Range, mountain range in the region
Canada
* Britis ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, owned and operated by
TrustPower
Manawa Energy Limited, formerly Trustpower, is a New Zealand electricity generation company that offers bespoke electricity products to commercial and industrial customers across New Zealand. Manawa Energy has 26 hydro-electricity schemes, with a ...
. Commissioned in 1932, the plant is rated at and has an average annual output of .
History
Despite the pioneering achievements in supplying electricity to the town of
Reefton
Reefton is a small town in the West Coast region of New Zealand, some 80 km northeast of Greymouth, in the Inangahua River valley. Ahaura is 44 km south-west of Reefton, Inangahua Junction is 34 km to the north, Maruia is 63 ...
in 1888, electricity was relatively late in coming to the settlements of the West Coast. The Grey Electric Power Board was established in October 1922, but at that stage, there was no immediate prospect of supply from the Government, and the Board was permitted to construct its own power scheme and associated transmission network. In 1923, a plan was developed to build a hydro-electric generating station on the Arnold River. However, to meet pressing demands for electricity supply from local residents this plan was postponed, and a coal-burning steam engine power station was built at
Dobson in 1926.
However, after only a year's operation, the level of demand was such that more capacity was required, and the planning for the Arnold River hydro scheme recommenced. Construction began in October 1929, and the power station was opened in September 1932. Electricity from the station was transmitted at 33 kV.
Technical details
The station was built with a concrete gravity dam, with an earth wing wall. An intake tunnel in diameter and long was built connecting to a surge chamber and two short penstocks. As originally constructed, the station had a head of , but this was later increased to . The Arnold station had two variable-pitch Kaplan turbines each driving generators rated at 1,500 kW.
Connecting to the National Grid
The settlements of the West Coast did not finally receive a supply of electricity from the National Grid until October 1938, when a 66 kV transmission line was completed from
Lake Coleridge
Lake Coleridge ( mi, Whakamatau) is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface area of . The lake is situated in an over-deepened valley formed by a glacier over 20,000 year ...
across the
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps (; officially Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana) is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the range's western side. The name "Southern ...
through
Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, previously called Camping Flat then Bealey Flats, and for some time officially Arthurs Pass, is a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand, located in the Selwyn district. It is a popular base for explorin ...
to the West Coast. In anticipation of becoming connected to the National Grid, in 1937 the Grey Electric Power Board agreed to sell the Arnold River hydro-electric power station to the Government, and also to surrender its right to generate power.
Further development
TrustPower had been planning a new hydroelectric power station at Arnold, with an output of and average annual generation of .
Consents for this project were granted by the
Grey District
Grey District is a district in the West Coast Region of New Zealand that covers Greymouth, Runanga, Blackball, Cobden, and settlements along the Grey River. It has a land area of . The seat of the Grey District Council, the local government au ...
and West Coast Regional Councils in November 2008. Though the resource consents were upheld by the
Environment Court
The Environment Court of New Zealand ( mi, Te Kōti Taiao o Aotearoa) is a specialist court for plans, resource consents and environmental issues. It mainly deals with issues arising under the Resource Management Act, meaning that it covers a w ...
in 2010,
the project was put on hold indefinitely in 2012 due to changes in economic conditions.
In September 2019 Trustpower said that the scheme was unlikely to proceed as it was not economically viable.
Consents for the scheme lapsed in December 2020.
See also
*
Electricity sector in New Zealand
The electricity sector in New Zealand uses mainly renewable energy, such as Hydroelectricity, hydropower, geothermal energy, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. , 82% of electricity is generated from renewable sources, making New Zea ...
*
List of power stations in New Zealand
This is a list of power stations in New Zealand.
The list is not exhaustive – only power stations over 0.5 MW and significant power stations below 0.5 MW are listed.
Power plants in New Zealand have different generating roles ...
References
{{Grey District
Energy infrastructure completed in 1932
Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand
Grey District
Buildings and structures in the West Coast, New Zealand