Search for New Sources of Power

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1948, Page 5

Search for New Sources of Power

WELLINGTON, May 8 The Department was by no means unmindful of the possibility of sources for generating electric power besides water, said the general manager of the State Hydro-Electric Department (Mr A. E. Davenport). The Minister in charge of the State Hydro-Electric Department, (the Hon. R. Semple) had already foreshadowed New Zealand research into the possible use of thermal heat for power. Thanks to the deposit of brown coai, unique in its accessibility and in the depth of seam, the Yallourn plant in Victoria, was generating 1,000,000,000 units years, and a further consirable extension was now proposed, added Mr Davenport. This brown coal was of lower grade than most of New Zealand brown coals, cointaining up to 60 per cent of water, but the New Zealand seams were very thin in comparison. New Zealand was also watching experiments, such as the use of wind for generating power in various Darts of the world.