Environmental and Resource Issues: Rotokawa Geothermal Power Station
- Key words
- Rotokawa steamfield, resource management, environmental impact
- Location
- Rotokawa, New Zealand; Taupo Volcanic Zone
- Conference
- World Geothermal Congress
- Year
- 1995
- Session
- SECTION 13 - Environmental and Social Aspects
- Language
- English
- Paper number
- 4-Bloomer
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Abstract
An 18 MW(e) power station is being developed on the Rotokawa geothermal field, situated in the central North Island of NZ, about 10 km from Wairakei. Geothermal developments in New Zealand are controlled by the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The RMA is intended to promote the sustainable management of New Zealand's resources, by balancing the needs of development (which enables people to provide for their well being, health and safety) against misuse of the resource being developed and damage to the environment generally. The resource consents granted for the Rotokawa power station are the first significant geothermal consents granted under the RMA and thus break new ground in geothermal developments in New Zealand. The significant issues of sustainable use of the geothermal resource and discharges to the air have been addressed.
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