Monowai Power Station

The Monowai Power Station, fed by the Monowai River from Lake Monowai in Southland, New Zealand, was one of the earliest hydroelectric power stations in the country. Originally commissioned in 1926, it was recently overhauled and now contains modern turbines and plant, though the original buildings are still in use. It is owned by Pioneer Generation, who currently have a resource consent valid for 30 more years of operation. Before its recent refurbishment, the station produced and 35- of electricity per year. Generating capacity has now increased to 7.6 MW.HistoryThe first considerations for a Monowai hydro power plant were raised as early as 1914, when the Council of the Southland League investigated the natural resources in the area. The potential energy of the fall from Lake Monowai into the Waiau River was seen as ideal. From the 1920s onward, more and more local areas in Southland began to be connected to the electricity grid, eventually leading to a start on work for a Monowai power station in 1921, led by H P Thomas as the Chief Engineer.The construction was funded by a £750,000 loan at 6% interest, with much of the equipment for the future station being purchased in London during a personal visit by the Chairman of the Board of the Southland Electric Power District. The equipment selected was Bowing Francis turbines (based on a Swedish design), with English Electric Company generators. The generators, originally excited by separate hydro turbine driven exciters, were two 0.85 power factor examples rated at two megawatts each. The plant was later increased to three generating systems.