The Roaring Meg hydro scheme refers to two small hydro electricity power stations fed by the Roaring Meg Dam. The scheme is located next to the Roaring Meg Stream in the
Kawarau Gorge, near
Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially a ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
. Roaring Meg is owned and operated by Pioneer Energy.
History
The scheme was built by the Otago Central Power Board starting in 1934 and commissioned 1936, at a cost of 40,000 pounds. At times the lower station has been flooded by the
Kawarau River
The Kawarau River is a river in the South Island of New Zealand. It drains Lake Wakatipu in northwestern Otago via the lake's Frankton Arm. The river flows generally eastwards for about and passes through the steep Kawarau Gorge until it join ...
.
[Cromwell Handbook 2nd edition]
http://www.cromwell.org.nz/downloads/Handbook2005.pdf
Layout
The scheme starts with the high Roaring Meg Dam located upstream from the confluence with the Kawarau River. The intake flows into a series of pipes connected to the power stations. The upper station discharges into both a pipe feeding the lower station and the Roaring Meg Stream, while the lower station discharges into the Kawarau River.
Performance
Annual energy production from both stations is approximately .
Lower Roaring Meg station:
* Two turbines
* Operating Head
* Combined Output
* Flow 1300 litres per second
Upper Roaring Meg station:
* Two turbines
* Operating Head
* Combined Output
* Flow 1300 litres per second
http://www.centrallakestrust.org.nz/documents/pgl_faq_0906.pdf
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References
External links
{{Central Otago
Buildings and structures in Otago
Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand