Geothermal power option for businesses
New industrial estate being developed
Anew industrial estate is being developed in Taupo¯ and users will have the opportunity to tap into geothermal energy to power their activities.
The 45-hectare greenfields site is located in the existing industrial area, off Rakanui Rd, on the northern edge of Taupo¯ town.
In May, the land was purchased from Contact Energy by Te Pae o Waimihia, a forest hapu¯ cluster trust representing six Nga¯ti Tu¯wharetoa hapu¯ : Nga¯ ti Rauhoto, Nga¯ ti Te Urunga, Nga¯ti Hineure, Nga¯ti Hinerau, Nga¯ti Tutetawha, and Nga¯ti Tutemohuta.
Chairman Ngahere Wall says the deal represents a partnership between Te Pae o Waimihia and Contact Energy.
The aim is to develop an industrial estate that will promote the use of clean energy and support businesses that seek positive environmental and commercial outcomes.
“It’s the start of a very exciting journey for us at Te Pae o Waimihia,” Wall says.
“As well as rental income, the project will give the trust and hapu¯ preferential investment and employment opportunities with tenants, and a potential hub for our own projects.”
The project is called He Ahi, to represent fire.
“The name, He Ahi, reflects the source of our local geothermal energy.
“He Ahi also represents the fire that burns within ourselves to create opportunities for our people and our community.”
Contact Energy geothermal resources and development general manager Mike Dunstall says the project reinforces Contact Energy’s commitment to benefiting Tauhara hapu¯ .
“We are very excited to be working closely with local hapu¯ to establish this project.”
He says the new industrial development also aligns with Contact’s strategy to grow demand for renewable energy by making the supply of geothermal energy more accessible.
He says He Ahi also contributes to the vision of a better New Zealand by supporting businesses in the renewable energy sector.
The deal will see Te Pae o Waimihia develop industrial and business land lots for companies seeking a serviced site and leased facility.
Each site will be specifically designed and built to meet the requirements of the tenant.
Contact Energy will provide geothermal energy to businesses that
require geothermal heat with exclusive rights to sell geothermal energy to the tenants, as well as a right of first refusal on any electricity supplies.
The sites will also promote other forms of clean energy and best practices for energy efficiency, waste management and low environmental impact.
Te Pae o Waimihia investment committee chairman Greg Stebbing says the development represents the increasingly close relationship
between Contact Energy and the Taupo¯ Township Hapu¯.
Design and development work for the site is under way, with the appointment of Blandina Diamond as project director, and consultants Egmont Dickson taking up the project management role. Diamond says the development has a strong focus on cultural expression and kaitiaki of the environment.
The infrastructure is due to be complete by mid-2023, with the first tenant already signed up.