Top Energy

Top Energy Limited is an electricity distribution and generation company based in Kerikeri, New Zealand. It owns and manages the electricity lines network in the Far North District of New Zealand, including Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Kaikohe. The service area covers 6,822 km2 and serves over 32,000 customers.[1] It also owns and operates the Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station.

Top Energy
Te Puna Hihiko
IndustryElectricity distribution, electricity generation
PredecessorBay of Islands Electric Power
Founded1935
Headquarters
Kerikeri
,
New Zealand
Key people
Richard Krogh (Chair)
Russell Shaw (CEO)
Number of employees
160
ParentTop Energy Consumer Trust
Websitetopenergy.co.nz
Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station
CountryNew Zealand
LocationNorthland
Coordinates35°25′03″S 173°51′07″E
StatusOperational
Commission date1998, 2008, 2020
Power generation
Nameplate capacity32 MW
External links
Websitetopenergy.co.nz

Ownership

Far North power consumers connected to Top Energy’s line network own the company, with the shares being held on their behalf by the Top Energy Consumer Trust.[2]

Distribution network

The Top Energy distribution network is connected to the national grid at Kaikohe substation.

Network statistics as of 31 March 2020[3]
ParameterValue
Total system length4,016 km
110 kV56 km
33 kV341 km
22 kV31 km
11 kV2,297 km
Low voltage (230/400 V)883 km
Customer connections32,156
System maximum demand70.9 MW
System electricity delivered332 GWh

The annual performance can be found in Top Energy's Group Annual Report on their website [4]

Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station

Top Energy owns and operates the Ngāwhā Geothermal Power Station on the Ngawha geothermal field. It utilises binary cycle technology manufactured by Ormat Industries and produces 56MW.

The power station opened in 1998 with a generating capacity of about 8 MW.[5] It was the first power station to come into operation via a resource consent applied for and issued under the Resource Management Act 1991.[6] In 2008, the plant was expanded, increasing the capacity to 25 MW and allowing the power station to provide 70% of Northland's electricity.[7]

In 2015, consents were granted for expansion with a further 50 MW of generation in two stages at a nearby site,[8] with work beginning in late 2017.[9] The first stage of the second expansion, generating an additional 32 MW was officially opened in July 2021. The stations now generate all the electricity the Far North needs for 97 per cent of the time, with surplus power sent to the national grid.[10]

Electricity generation at Ngāwhā A
Electricity generation at Ngāwhā B

See also

References
  1. "Top Energy publications and disclosures". Top Energy.
  2. "Top Energy Consumer Trust". Top Energy.
  3. "Tableau Public NZ Commerce Commission". 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  4. "Top Energy". Top Energy. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  5. "Northland Regional Council report on Environmental Monitoring : 2001-2002". Northland Regional Council. Archived from the original on 2008-10-15.
  6. "Regulatory Settings". New Zealand Geothermal Association. Archived from the original on 2010-05-23.
  7. Top Energy (21 May 2007). "Ngawha generator secured in local ownership" (Press release). Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  8. Top Energy (4 April 2016). "Power station consents granted" (Press release).
  9. "Ngawha power station drives Top Energy revenue..." Northern Advocate. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  10. "Ngāwhā power station opening heralds new era of Far North self-reliance". Northern Advocate. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
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