Geothermal energy provides a renewable, clean source of energy. In Kawerau, iwi-owned Tuwharetoa Geothermal is harnessing this energy to help drive a low-carbon, sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand. As a supplier of geothermal process heat and steam to the Kawerau Industrial Complex – the largest industrial geothermal process heat user in the world – Tuwharetoa Geothermal is supporting a range of key energy partners in the region.
The Kawerau Geothermal System currently produces 3,470,000 tonnes of steam yearly and has more than 20 geothermal wells. It is being sustainably managed, with ongoing investments to ensure it can continue to operate reliably and safely. Assessments carried out on the geothermal system show it remains very active with at least 50 years of commercial operability ahead. Flow-on benefits from the Kawerau Industrial Complex are immense both in terms of the economy and environment.
“It generates around $1.5 billion per year in GDP and supports roughly 500 jobs across all those industrial precincts and associated energy houses that are part of it,” says Robbie Watt, CEO of Tuwharetoa Geothermal. “On top of that, Kawerau geothermal process heat produces 90% less carbon emissions than the gas equivalent – it is a clean and renewable source of energy.”
Essity, one of the largest employers in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, has put $20 million into decarbonising its paper production mill at Kawerau where wood pulp is converted into tissue and toilet paper for well-known brands such as Sorbent, Purex, Handee and Tork. The company, headquartered in Sweden, recently announced that geothermal steam will fully replace the remaining gas component in its drying operations by the end of this year.
Largely co-funded by Essity and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the emission reduction delivered by this shift to geothermal steam has been estimated as equivalent to removing over 2,200 cars from the road.
“We are getting enquiries from new and existing businesses wanting to use geothermal steam rather than gas or coal for their process heat requirements. It’s good news all around.”
Robbie says another significant local employer and a big geothermal user is OJI Fibre Solutions. Geothermal heat has played a significant part in the Tasman Mill’s transformation project, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the mill by an amount equivalent to around 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
“They used to use gas for a lot of their steam generation in years gone by, but are now the biggest user of process geothermal energy. There are four different power plants currently on the field, with a fifth under construction, producing over 200 megawatts into the national grid. In the last few years, we have also reaffirmed our supply partnerships in the local timber sector – participants Carter Holt Harvey and Sequel – to assist with New Zealand’s construction timber requirements.”
“In addition, we are getting more and more enquiries from new and existing businesses wanting to relocate to Kawerau and use geothermal steam rather than gas or coal for their process heat requirements. It’s good news all around.” Tuwharetoa Geothermal also proudly supplies geothermal clean steam to Waiū Dairy for dairy processing.
Ngati Tuwharetoa views the geothermal resource as a taonga (treasure). The Kawerau Geothermal System was developed by the NZ government in the 1950s. In 2005, Ngati Tuwharetoa purchased the geothermal steam field assets and supply business, becoming the only 100% iwi-owned and operated geothermal supplier in Aotearoa New Zealand.
© Waterford Press Ltd 2024 – Independent Print Media New Zealand
