Ōhau A
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ōhau A is a hydroelectric power station in the Mackenzie Basin, Canterbury, New Zealand. Operated by Meridian Energy, it is one of the three Ōhau stations in the Upper Waitaki hydro scheme.[1] The station is located at the end of the man-made Pūkaki canal, where water from Lake Pūkaki joins flows from the Ōhau canal before passing through the station into Lake Ruataniwha.[1][2]
| Ōhau A | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Canterbury |
| Coordinates | 44°15′52″S 170°1′56″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1979 |
| Owner | Meridian Energy |
| Operator | |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Hydroelectric |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 4 |
| Nameplate capacity | 264 MW (354,000 hp) |
| Annual net output | 1,150 GWh (4,100 TJ) |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
History and construction
Ōhau A was the third station built as part of the Upper Waitaki hydro scheme. The wider scheme began in 1968, and Twizel was established as a construction town for the project.[1][3][4] Construction of Ōhau A began in 1971 and the station was commissioned in 1979.[1][5]
During construction, approximately 2 million cubic metres of rock and gravel were excavated from the northern bank of the Ōhau River, and a further 500,000 cubic metres were removed for the tailrace tunnel.[1] The Upper Waitaki works also altered the hydrology of the Mackenzie Basin by combining waters from Lakes Tekapo, Pūkaki and Ōhau, and by creating Lake Ruataniwha with a dam on the Ōhau River.[3][2]
A rowing course was also developed on Lake Ruataniwha during the project, and the lake later became a national rowing venue.[1][6]
