The Wairau Hydro Scheme is a canal based
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 ...
project proposed 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 ...
on the
Wairau River
The Wairau River is one of the longest rivers in New Zealand's South Island. It flows for from the Spenser Mountains (a northern range of the Southern Alps), firstly in a northwards direction and then northeast down a long, straight valley in ...
in
Marlborough
Marlborough may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
** Marlborough College, public school
* Marlborough School, Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England
* The Marlborough Science Academy in Hertfordshire, England
Austral ...
, New Zealand. The $280 million project would divert up to 60% of the river through of canals to generate up to of electricity.
Resource consents
Resource consents for this project were granted in 2008. This decision was appealed to 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 ...
, which in 2010 decided in favour of the project. However, TrustPower put the project on hold in 2012, due to low electricity prices combined with rising construction costs.
Consents for the scheme lapsed in 2021.
See also
*
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 ...
*
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 ...
References
External links
TrustPower website
Proposed hydroelectric power stations
Buildings and structures in the Marlborough Region
Proposed renewable energy power stations in New Zealand
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