Waitaki Hydro Scheme

A comprehensive chain of hydro-electric power stations starting at Lake Tekapo utilises the water resource of the McKenzie Basin.

Upper Waitaki Hydro Scheme A hydro station, near the Tekapo Township and now known as Tekapo A, was commissioned in 1951. This became the first in the chain of stations constituting the Upper Waitaki Power Scheme. These stations were commissioned between 1977 and 1985. Major earthworks led to the construction of 58 km of canals so that the scheme makes full use of the water in the McKenzie Basin and the available head. All the stations on the Waitaki River, including those downstream at Benmore, Aviemore and the original Waitaki station are now automated and controlled from Twizel.
The overall Waitaki hydro scheme is made up of eight power stations in a chain. The upper part of the chain includes the five Tekapo and Ohau power stations. The Tekapo A generator takes its inflow from Lake Tekapo, the water then flows through a canal to the Tekapo B station, or into Lake Pukaki. The Ohau A power station is located on a canal linking Lake Pukaki and Lake Ruataniwha. Water from this canal as well as water from another canal connected to Lake Ohau supply the generator, the water passes through the generator and into Lake Ruataniwha.
The Ohau B and C generators are located on a canal linking Lake Ruataniwha with Lake Benmore. Water can also be diverted from Ohau B to the Ohau river. Lake Benmore supplies the power stations in the lower part of the chain and water passing through each station is discharged back into the Waitaki river, which then forms a storage lake for the next station in the chain. There are three power stations in this part of the system – Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki. Water can be diverted around each station if necessary.
The annual system output is about 7640 GWH

NOTE: Hydro Power stations are usually named after the up-stream water source.

 Hometown New Zealand Photographs by Derek Smith

Photo Credit; Derek Smith and Maclean Barker Photographers