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Eastland Generation

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Eastland Generation
Company typePrivate
IndustryElectricity generation
Founded2010
Headquarters,
New Zealand
Websiteeastlandgeneration.nz

Eastland Generation is a New Zealand electricity generation company specialising in renewable energy. As of 2024 it owns and operates three geothermal, one hydro-electric, and one solar power station. The company was originally wholly-owned by the Eastland Group, a regional infrastructure holding company 100% owned by the Trust Tairāwhiti regional infrastructure trust. In May 2024 Eastland Group sold 50% of the company to the Obayashi Corporation as part of a capital raise.

History

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Eastland Generation evolved from the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board. During the electricity sector reforms of the 1990s, the PEPB was rebranded as Eastland Energy, then the Eastland Network, with ownership vested in a community trust.[1] The Eastland network expanded into electricity generation in 1999 with the purchase of the Waihi hydroelectric station.[1] In 2010, the generation assets were separated into a separate company following the purchase of a geothermal power station.[1]

In 2016 damage to the Waihi dam caused ongoing pollution to the area's drinking water, resulting in the company having to pay the Wairoa District Council more than $100,000 in cleanup costs.[2]

In 2018 the company completed construction of the 24MW Te Ahi o Maui geothermal power station.[3] In June 2021 Eastland acquired the 26 MW TOPP1 geothermal station.[4] In August 2023 it received fast-track consent for its Tāheke 8C geothermal power station.[5] In November 2023 it commissioned Te Ihi o te Ra, its first solar power station.[6][7]

In May 2024 Eastland Group sold 50% of the company to the Obayashi Corporation as part of a capital raise.[8]

Power stations

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Operational

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Name Type Location Capacity (MW) Annual generation
(average GWh)
Commissioned
Geothermal Development Limited Geothermal Kawerau 8 2008
Te Ahi O Maui Geothermal Kawerau 24 2018
Te Ihi o te Ra Solar Gisborne Airport, Gisborne 5.2 2023
TOPP1 Geothermal Kawerau 26 2012
Waihi Dam Hydro Lake Ruapapa, near Wairoa 5 1986

Proposed / under construction

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Name Type Location Projected capacity (MW) Status
Taheke 8C Geothermal Okere Falls 35 Consented
TOPP2 Geothermal Kawerau 49 Consented

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Our history". Trust Tāirawhiti. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Waihi Dam breached consent for years". RNZ. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ^ "NZ's newest power plant is full steam ahead". SunLive. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Eastland Generation acquires the 26 MW TOPP1 geothermal power plant at the Kawerau geothermal field in New Zealand". Think GeoEnergy. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Fast-track consenting approved for Taheke geothermal project, New Zealand". Think GeoEnergy. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Tairāwhiti's Solar Farm Debut: New Zealand's Largest". Gisborne Airport. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Lodestone, Eastland's new solar power projects switched on, generating electricity". New Zealand Herald. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Obayashi completes 50% acquisition of NZ-based Eastland Generation". Think GeoEnergy. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
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