Geothermal

Fonterra’s Waitoa milk processing plant in the Waikato is currently supplied with process heat by three coal boilers, and with electricity primarily from the grid. This study assessed the potential for an enhanced geothermal project whereby heat can be extracted from hot deep rock structures to meet the site’s heat demand and also generate around 8MW of electricity.

This study considered the feasibility and economics of electricity generation from the geothermal resources available at Ngapuna, in the vicinity of the wastewater treatment plant in Rotorua. The project is intended to be implemented as a joint venture between the Pukeroa OruawhataTrust and the Rotorua District Council (RDC), and could generate around 1MW of electricity to be used onsite with excess sold.