Huntly (unit 6) — New Zealand

Huntly (unit 6) is a 60 MW gas power plant in Waikato, New Zealand. It is operated by Genesis Energy. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 68k homes (estimated). It ranks #35 of 50 New Zealand power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2004, it is around 22 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 8.9% of New Zealand's electricity; the national grid averages 93 gCO₂/kWh (88.5% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000307.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 60 MW, Huntly (unit 6) is below the median gas plant in New Zealand (112 MW). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of New Zealand gas capacity

2.6% of 2,290 MW across 10 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

3 of 9 dated gas plants in New Zealand are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in New Zealand

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Genesis Energy.

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 37.5°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 39% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 34/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #9 largest gas power plant of 10 in New Zealand by capacity.

New Zealand has 10 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 2,290 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Huntly (CC) · Gas · 403 MW · Waikato
• Huntly (steam) · Coal · 500 MW · Waikato
• Huntly power station · Gas · 454 MW · Waikato
• Te Rapa · Gas · 44 MW · Waikato
• Te Uku · Wind · 64 MW · Waikato
• Glenbrook power station · Gas · 112 MW · Auckland

Location

Coordinates -37.5444, 175.15 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

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