Summary
The geology of the volcanic belt of the North Island of New Zealand is outlined and a description is given of the structure at Wairakei where holes drilled to depths from 300 to 4000 ft (100 to 1240 m.) produce a mixture of steam and water from which 20 MW of electricity is being generated (August 1959). Equipment is being installed to increase this figure first to 69 MW and later 150 MW.
Similar content being viewed by others
Selected Bibliography
1953:Hydrothermal Rock Alteration at Wairakei, New Zealand -A. Steiner; Economic Geology48, 1.
1955:Geothermal Steam for Power in New Zealand - Compiled byL. I. Grange; D.S.I.R. Bulletin 117.
1955:The Heat from the Wairakei-Taupo Thermal Region Calculated from the Chloride Output-A. J. Ellis andS. H. Wilson; N.Z. J.S.T.36 (6B), 622.
1955:Wairakite, the Calcium Analogue of Analcime, a new Zeolite Mineral -A. Steiner, Mineralogical MagazineXXX, (230), 691
1956:Preliminary Account of Hydrothermal Conditions at Wairakei, N. Z. -J. Healy; Proc. 8 Pacific Sci. Congress II, 214.
1957:The New Zealand Thermal Area and its Development for Power Production -C. J. Banwell; Trans. A.S.M.E.79 (2), 255.
1957:Flow Sampling and Discharge Measurement in Geothermal Bores -C. J. Banwell; Trans. A.S.M.E.79 (2), 269.
1957:Corrosion by Low Pressure Geothermal Steam -T. Marshall andA. J. Hugill; Corrosion13, 59.
1957:Wairakei Hydrothermal System and the Influence of Ground Water -F. E. Studt; N.Z. J.S.T.38 (6B), 595.
1957:Physics of the New Zealand Thermal Area -C. J. Banwell, E. R. Cooper, G. E. K. Thompson, K. J. McCree, D.S.I.R. Bulletin 123.
1958:Natural Heat Flow from the Thermal Areas of Taupo Sheet District N94 -D. R. Gregg, N.Z. J. Geol. Geophys.1, 65.
1958:Stress Corrosion of Austenitic Stainless Steel in Geothermal Steam -T. Marshall, Corrosion14, 59.
1958:The Wairakei Hydrothermal Field under Exploitation -F. E. Studt; N.Z.J. Geol. and Geophys.1, 703.
1958:Production and Utilisation of Geothermal Steam -J. H. Smith; N.Z. Engineering13, 354.
1958:Geophysical Reconnaissance at Kawerau, New Zealand -F. E. Studt; N. Z. J. Geol. and Geophys.1, 219.
1959:The Hot Springs and Hydrothermal Eruptions of Waiotapu -E. F. Lloyd; N.Z.J. Geol. and Geophys.2, 141.
1959:Electricity from Geothermal Steam -E. L. E. Wheatcroft; J.I.E.E.5, 83. (In press):The Geological Structure and Volcanism of the Taupo-Tarawera District -N. Modriniak andF. E. Studt; N.Z.J. Geol. and Geophys.2.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Studt, F.E., Doyle, D. Electric power generation from geothermal steam at Wairakei, New Zealand. Bull Volcanol 23, 277–282 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596656
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596656