GRAVE DEFICIENCIES OF POWER

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1238, 10 July 1947, Page 7

GRAVE DEFICIENCIES OF POWER

MR. N. G. McLEOD IS SURVEY Problem Of Future Supply Serious deficiencies in the supply of power from hydro-electric plants in existence and contemplated, even under most favourable circumstances, were revealed in a report submitted to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board by its chief engineer, Mr. N. G. McLeod.

The report was based on three premises, Mr. McLeod first assuming that Kaitawa (Waikaremoana) and the full generating plant at Karapiro would be in operation in 1948, Maraetai in 1950, and the seven remaining proposed stations on tlie Waikato River at yearly intervals thereafter. He further assumed Maraetai would not be completed until 1951, with the remainder at yearly intervals, and in third instance that Maraetai would be completed in 1950 and each of the other stations biennially. Base starting loads were taken at 340,000 kw from all sources, different charts showing the effect of 8, 10, 12 and 15 per cent, annual increases in load. Rate of increase would depend on a number of factors.

May Be Too Slow Increasing demands could be expected uutil the damned-up requirements were met, said Mr. McLeod. He understood the State Hydro Department based its generating capacity on an average increase of 10 per cent, per annum. This might be a fairly safe basis under normal circumstances, but following a long period of restriction it was likely to be too low for several years. Under his first set of circumstances Mr. McLeod estimated there would, with full generating capacity available, be ample plant to handle the 8 and 10 per cent, increases for 10 years, the 12 per cent- for nine years, and the 15 per cent, for seven. With dry weather prevailing, however, and suflieient water in the Waikato to run only one Karapiro unit, the position would not be so goodTbese circumstances were the best Mr McLeod could envisage and under other possibilities tlie position became increasingly worse with delay in installation of equipment. Much depended on the speed with which Maraetai was completed. With the plant operating in 1950 a great proportion of load could be met thereafter witli other plants coming in each year, but delay at Maraetai would aggravate the shortage. Standby Plant “ Based on dry weather conditions it does not appear that a rate of increase of not less than 12 per cent, should be considered for a period of five years following completion at Maraetai,” said Mr. McLeod. The provision of standby plant should be such as to fill up deficiencies pending completion of the hydro scheme. These non-liydro plants initially might he standby or load-building plants, but eventually they would become fulltime plants. “ Looking still further into the future, since available hydraulic power lias its limits, non-hydro plants possibly will overshadow the capacity available from the water power of New Zealand.”

Starting with a base load and generating capacity of 340,000 kw for 1947 and allowing for a 4.3 per cent- rate of increase for 1948, 1949 and 1950, which was all that the completion of Karapiro and Kaitawa would allow under dry conditions, continued Mr. McLeod, and then allowing for a 12 per cent, rate of increase from 1951 to 1956, the following standby plant would be necessary (all plus emergency plant): 1952, SOOOkw; 1953, 16,000 kw; 1954, 56,000 kw; 1955, 104,000 kw; 1956, 236,000 kw. Not l an Economic Waste It was unfortunate there was insufficient plant installed to handle tlie pent-up load, but information should toe available concerning expected times of completion of various generating plants and the proposals to meet the expected possible demands under dry weather conditions. If these things wore known the position could toe more accurately forecast. It should not be assumed that a generating plant standing idle was an economic waste any more than it should be assumed that insurance on a house was an economic waste if the house was not destroyed.

The board will forward a copy of Mr. McLeod's report to the Minister of Works, Hon. It. Semple, for comment.