The Kaipara tidal power station was a proposed tidal power project to be located in the Kaipara Harbour. The project was being developed by Crest Energy, with an ultimate size of 200MW at a cost of $600 million.[1] Consent for part of the project was granted in 2011, but it was put on hold in 2013 and has not progressed since.
| Kaipara Tidal Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Kaipara Harbour, Northland |
| Coordinates | 36°25′S 174°10′E / 36.417°S 174.167°E |
| Status | Abandoned proposal |
| Construction cost | $600 million |
| Owner | Crest Energy |
| Tidal power station | |
| Type | Tidal stream generator |
| Power generation | |
| Units planned | 200 × 1.2 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 200 MW |
| External links | |
| Website | www |
Crest Energy planned to place up to 200 turbines at least 30 metres deep along a ten kilometre stretch of the main channel. Historical charts show this stretch of the channel has changed little over 150 years. The output of the turbines would cycle twice daily with the predictable rise and fall of the tide. Each turbine was expected to have a maximum output of 1.2 MW, and generate 0.75 MW averaged over time.[1]
In 2013, it was announced that the project had been put on hold, and most of the shares in Crest Energy had been sold to Todd Energy.[2] Uncertainty in the power market was blamed for the demise of the project by Anthony Hopkins, founding director of Crest Energy.[3]
Kaipara Harbour
editThe entrance to Kaipara Harbour, one of the largest harbours in the world, is a channel to the Tasman Sea. It narrows to a width of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi),[4] and is over 50 metres (160 ft) deep in parts. On average, Kaipara tides rise and fall 2.10 metres (6.9 ft). At high tide, nearly 1000 square kilometres are flooded. Spring tidal flows reach 9 km/h (5 knots) in the entrance channel and move 1,990 million cubic meters per tidal movement or 7,960 million cubic meters daily.[5]
Consents
editIn 2008, the Northland Regional Council granted resource consents for only 100 turbines. This was appealed to the Environment Court, which in 2011 set conditions for the project allowing for 200 turbines, with many conditions including staged development.[6] The minister of conservation granted resource consents for the project in March 2011.[7] The consents lapsed 10 years after they were granted,[8] in early 2021.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Kaipara tidal power". Crest Energy. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
- ^ Doesburg, Anthony (30 September 2013). "Kaipara marine turbine plan on hold". NZ Herald.
- ^ "Plug pulled on tidal turbine projects". NZ Herald. 5 Nov 2013. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ Haggit T, Mead S, and Bellingham M (2008) Kaipara Harbour Environmental Information Review Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine ARC Technical Publication TP 354
- ^ Bellve, AR; Austin, G and Woods, B (2007) Pathway to energy generation from marine tidal currents in New Zealand's Kaipara Harbour Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine University of Auckland
- ^ Thompson, Wayne (8 February 2011). "Tidal power station for Kaipara approved". NZ Herald.
- ^ "Kaipara Harbour tidal turbine project approved" (Press release). Kate Wilkinson, Minister for Conservation. 17 March 2011.
- ^ Crest Energy Kaipara Ltd & others v Northland Regional Council, 2011 NZEC 26, Condition 2 (Environment Court of New Zealand).