Roaring Meg hydro scheme

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, New Zealand. Roaring Meg is owned and operated by Pioneer Generation.

History

The scheme was built by the Otago Central Power Board starting in 1934 and commissioned 1936, at a cost of 40,000 pounds. [ [http://www.nzsouth.co.nz/centralotago/cromdo.html http://www.nzsouth.co.nz/centralotago/cromdo.html] ] . At times the lower station has been flooded by the Kawarau River. Cromwell Handbook 2nd edition: [http://www.cromwell.org.nz/downloads/Handbook2005.pdf http://www.cromwell.org.nz/downloads/Handbook2005.pdf] ]

Layout

The scheme starts with the 10m high Roaring Meg Dam located 3.6km 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. [ [http://www.qldc.govt.nz/Documents/ContentDocuments/District_Plan/2007_Operative_District_Plan/12%2012%20Hydro%20Gen%20June%202007.pdf http://www.qldc.govt.nz/Documents/ContentDocuments/District_Plan/2007_Operative_District_Plan/12%2012%20Hydro%20Gen%20June%202007.pdf] ]

Performance

Annual energy production from both stations is approximately 30 GWh.

Lower Roaring Meg station:
* Two turbines
* Operating Head 304m
* Combined Output 3000 kW
* Flow 1300 litres per second

Upper Roaring Meg station:
* Two turbines
* Operating Head 125m
* Combined Output 1263 kW
* Flow 1300 litres per second [ [http://www.centrallakestrust.org.nz/documents/pgl_faq_0906.pdf http://www.centrallakestrust.org.nz/documents/pgl_faq_0906.pdf] ]

References