Great Hydro-Electric Conceptions

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1947, Page 4

Great Hydro-Electric Conceptions

Reports of the filling of the lake and the trying-out of the first big generator at the power station at Karapiro are very understandably exciting public curiosity and interest. It is doubtful if many people have a clear conception of the magnitude and resourcefulness of the schemes that have emanated from engineering brains to harness the waterpower of the North Island.

Waikaremoana, of which little js being said at the moment, is in itself a huge scheme which, when completed. will help the stations on the Waikato River to provide electrical power beyond the dreams of those who pioneered the utilisation of the Dominion’s ’white coal."

Karapiro being in the spotlight at the moment, it is timely to outline the scheme whereby the waters gathered into Lake Taupo will be used over and over again in a series of ten stations at different points on the Waikato River.

This is to be accomplished by the construction of big dams which will

raise the height of the river sufficiently at each point to provide water for turbines to drive electrical generators at the station.

After the water has passed through the turbines, it will resume its journey towards the sea until held by the next dam. when it will again generate electricity. This procedure will be repeated at ten stations when the scheme is complete, the waters of the Waikato then returning to the ocean.

The power stations envisaged in the great scheme are, in their order from the lake: Huka Falls (with a capacity of 40.000 kilowatts), Papariki (20,000 k.w.). Aratiatia <60.000 k.w.). Ohakuri (100.000 k.w.), Whnkamaru (100.000 k.w.). Atiamuri 50.000 k.w.). Maractai (180.000 k.w.), Waipapa (50.000 k.w.), Arapuni (145,000 k.w.), Karapiro (90.000 k.w.).

A truly great scheme, which has won for its originators and those who have carried it out so far the commendation of the engineering world.