Geothermal energy is an abundant resource in New Zealand, and its economic value extends beyond the tourist attractions of mudpools and geysers. Valve World's roving reporter Joanne Mclntyre travelled to the steaming heart of the North Island to visit the Rotokawa Power Plant to find out more about the challenges of tapping into this powerful resource. The Rotokawa Power Plant taps into a high temperature, water-dominated reservoir. Delivered as a turn-key project by Or mat in 1997, the plant is owned and operated by Mighty River Power, one of New Zealand's electricity generators, which also operates a second, larger geo-thermal power station at nearby Mokai. General Manager Greg Raasch welcomes the chance to talk about his favourite topic, the process of turning geothermal energy into electricity. "We currently operate three production wells at Rotokawa. Each is sunk to between 2 and 3 km into the ground to tap into a reservoir with water temperatures in excess of 300℃ at a pressure of around 100 bar."
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