North Bank tunnel project
Country
  • New Zealand
LocationWaitaki River, New Zealand
StatusProposed
Owner(s)Meridian Energy
Thermal power station
Primary fuelHydropower
Power generation
Nameplate capacity200 MW (270,000 hp)

The North Bank tunnel concept was a hydroelectric scheme being developed by Meridian Energy on the Waitaki River in Canterbury, New Zealand. The $993 million project was expected to produce an additional 1,100 to 1,400 gigawatt-hours (4,000 to 5,000 TJ) per annum, and take up to 260 cubic metres per second (9,200 cu ft/s) of water from Lake Waitaki. The project would have resulted in a 275 gigawatt-hours (990 TJ) per annum reduction in output from the Waitaki hydro station.[1]

Discovery of geological faultlines prompted a rethink of the project, including consideration of using a canal instead of a tunnel.[2]

Work on the project was suspended in January 2013 due to a forecast of flat demand for electricity for the next five years.[3] Resource consents for the scheme lapsed in 2016.[4]

This project is at a similar location to Project Aqua, a hydroelectric power proposal abandoned by Meridian in 2004.

In December 2008, Environment Canterbury granted water use consents for this project.[5] Appeals against this decision were made by Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tahu Fishers People Inc, the Lower Waitaki River Management Society and Black Point farmer Garth Dovey.[6] The appeal hearings were held in the Environment Court during June and July 2009,[7] with water rights being granted in September 2009.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bruce, David (1 July 2009). "Meridian outlines details, link to dam". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  2. ↑ "Faultlines spark redesign in Waitaki power project". The New Zealand Herald. 16 September 2010.
  3. ↑ Webby, Jacquie (20 January 2013). "Meridian suspends land negotiations". Oamaru Mail. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Hydro generation stack update for large-scale plant". Roaring40s. 24 September 2020. p. 15. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Bruce, David (24 December 2008). "Meridian gains approval for tunnel power scheme". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  6. ↑ Bruce, David (31 January 2009). "Four appeals received against tunnel scheme". Otago Daily Times.
  7. ↑ Bruce, David (14 March 2009). "Appeals may take 5 weeks". Otago Daily Times.
  8. ↑ Cogle, Fleur (26 September 2009). "Meridian wins water rights for hydro project". Timaru Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2009.

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