Unsolved Problems In Geothermal Steam Power

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 8

Unsolved Problems In Geothermal Steam Power

“The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON, November 7. Doubts as to what firm power will be available from geothermal sources or when such power will be available are raised by the city electrical engineer (Mr R. S. Maunder) in a section dealing with New Zealand power problems in his report to the Wellington City Council on his recent visit overseas. “My information from responsible engineers is that many engineering problems remain to be solved and that the design and manufacture of the special plant required may take some years,” says Mr Maunder. “Even when the plSnt is installed no one knows what operating, difficulties and delays there may . B* his report Mr Maunder says mat the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) had announced in his 1954 Budget speech, that 40,000 kw of capacity -was to be installed. Such a capacity was quite inadequate to meet the future needs of the North Island, even if the project proved to be successful. If the plant gave no trouble it might meet load growths, for about 12 months. What then? There were still further hydroeJGctric power schemes in the North Island waiting to be developed, but most of them were -small in comparison with future load requirements. Present power costs were high because the old and small steam Elants in Auckland and Wellington ad to be kept in operation. In Sweden a 270,000 kw steam power station was kept in reserve for dry periods and peak loads. The State Power Board was now planning an additional steam station of 400,000 kw capacity. In addition, the steam plants, in Denmark were used during me night hours to send power back to Sweden, when water was short. Swedish engineers could not understand why adequate steam plants were not installed in New Zealand. The fuel used in Sweden was coal (mostly imported) and oil, all of which was imported. Cook Strait Cable Because of the limited capacity of hydro-electric power remaining to be developed in the North Island, it seemed inevitable that in time a solution would have to be found to bringing power from the South Island across Cook Strait. Such a scheme would require several years investigation and would involve a very large investment. It was probable, in order to provide an

adequate power load from the commencement of such an installation and therefore make the scheme an economic one, that a power load of the order of 150,000 kw should be built up by a fuel power station in the North Island. Such a plant would then be a standby and could be used to build up further load for a second stage of development. “Great Britain is spending many millions a year on nuclear power development,” says the report. “Its value to New Zealand is that, in any view, there need be no hesitation in using the low grade open cast coal in the Waikato for power production immediately, because there is sufficient coal to last for 20 to 30 years. By that time it seems certain that adequate nuclear power will be available —if. it is ithen wanted. Such risks, if any, would be less than the present risks of extensive power shortages and also the risk of obtaining substantial geothermal power in the near future.

“There is. no suggestion that the North Island geothermal proposals should not be proceeded with, but that for the present, until more knowledge and experience are available, such proposals should not limit the normal annual requirements for additional generating plant. “Further, it is not suggested that nuclear power should be considered as an alternative to supplying hydroelectric power to the North Island from the South Island.

“Hydro-electric power is a permanent natural source of energy, and therefore its development to the full is tundamehtal to the economy of this country. All other sources of power are supplementary. However, the important matter is to provide adequate additional power each year to meet the needs of the country. Power shortages may be such an economic loss that the losses exceed what would have been- the cost of meeting requirements at the right time. “The British Electricity Authority has firm plans for new plant each year for the next five years, is designing schemes for six to seven years ahead, and is exploring schemes for 10 years ahead. These plans provide for an addition of 1,550,000 kw of new plant each year rising to 1,750,000 kw in 1959. Each year the report of the British Electricity Authority publishes the new plant planned and ordered for a further period. There is no evidence of such concrete plans here.”