2 Sep 2013

New power station handed over

4:27 pm on 2 September 2013

Mighty River Power has officially taken ownership of its new geothermal power station north-east of Taupo.

The $475 million Ngatamariki plant had been in a testing phase and reached its full capacity for the first time in June.

Mighty River Power chief executive Doug Heffernan says the 82-megawatt plant produces enough electricity to power about 80,000 homes.

He says geothermal energy now accounts for about 40% of the company's total generation.