Waipapa Power Station is a
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...
power station on the
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for through the North Island. It rises on the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake TaupÅ, New Zealand's largest lake. It th ...
, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the sixth hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. It is the smallest power station on the Waikato River.
Waipapa is operated by the publicly listed company
Mercury Energy
Mercury NZ Limited is a New Zealand electricity generation and multi-product utility retailer of electricity, gas, broadband and mobile telephone services. All the company's electricity generation is renewable. Mercury has a pre-paid electrici ...
, an electricity generation and retail company.
History
Although this site was initially considered in 1943, the decision to proceed with hydro development was not made until 1953. Construction began in 1955 and the first electricity was generated in April 1961. In 2001, the turbines were refurbished to improve operational efficiency.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{Waikato River dams
Energy infrastructure completed in 1961
Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand
Buildings and structures in Waikato
1960s architecture in New Zealand
Brutalist architecture in New Zealand