New Zealand’s newest hydro scheme was launched on 29 July with the official opening of the Talla Burn Hydro Scheme: Paul Wilson Station in Beaumont, Central Otago. This is a hydro power with a difference, and, at the opening, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Bill English applauded the initiative as “the face of the future” in the New Zealand electricity scene.
Developed by two local families, the run-of-river scheme follows an enlarged old gold mining and water race and generates at peak 2.4 MW of power, enough for around 1000 homes in the local area. MWH’s Craig Scott worked alongside the families – the Wilson and Hore families - as Owners Engineer and Design Advisor throughout the development. Craig led civil designs which were then completed by the Wilson’s son Paul, a civil engineer. Craig continues to provide ongoing support.
He says, “It was a pleasure to work with people who had the tenacity to drive through a complicated RMA consenting then design process for a project that would traditionally only be undertaken by corporates. The project may seem small but it took three years to consent and design, two years to construct and cost several million dollars”.
The power generated from this scheme has been purchased by retailer Pulse energy. Its Managing Director, Dene Biddlecombe says it “is an example of the tenacity of little battlers who put their money and ingenuity where their mouth is to overcome commercial and regulatory obstacles.” Mr English said there were a number of other opportunities for smaller-scale, privately held hydro schemes like this one.
The schemes power station, which uses water from the Talla Burn River, was named after the Project Manager, Paul, son of owners Jeff and Sue Wilson, who drowned in February 2011, three month after the scheme was commissioned while taking water samples near the power station.
For more information please contact Craig Scott, Business Development Leader – Energy, Dams and Hydro, Ph 03 343-8746 or email craig.r.scott@www.mwhglobal.com
