Ormat Technologies has announced that two of its subsidiaries have entered into a $42 million supply and construction contract with Contact Energy for the Centennial binary plant, a new geothermal power plant that is to be constructed in the Tauhara geothermal field in New Zealand.
The construction of the power plant is expected to be completed within 23 months. Contact Energy is reportedly New Zealand’s largest geothermal power plant owner and operator, as well as the country’s largest wholesaler and retailer of natural gas and LPG.
Contact Energy already has one operating geothermal binary power plant that was supplied by Ormat in 2005.
The Centennial plant will mark the 12th geothermal power plant with a total capacity of over 250MW erected in the country by Ormat. The new plant will use air-cooled condensers and will allow 100% geothermal fluid re-injection, which serves both to sustain the reservoir and to produce electrical power with virtually no environmental impact.
The plant will utilize the organic turbine developed by Ormat for geothermal and recovered-energy applications.
Dita Bronicki, CEO of Ormat Technologies, said: We are very pleased to receive this repeat contract from Contact Energy and are excited for the opportunity to once again work with the company’s geothermal team. The award of these contracts demonstrates the trust that Contact Energy has in our ability to contribute experience and knowledge to the development of this new geothermal field, and we are looking forward to delivering a great performing power plant on schedule.