Kawerau — New Zealand
Geothermal power plant in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Approximate location -38.0631, 176.7272.
GeothermalBay of PlentyNew Zealand
Kawerau is a 100 MW geothermal power station in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. It is operated by Mercury Energy. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 188k homes (estimated). It ranks #22 of 50 New Zealand power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2008, it is around 18 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, geothermal supplies about 21.8% 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 WRI1000327.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 100 MW, Kawerau is below the median geothermal plant in New Zealand (113 MW). Geothermal plants tap underground heat to raise steam for a turbine; they provide steady, low-carbon baseload but are limited to geologically active regions.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of New Zealand geothermal capacity
- 14.9% of 670 MW across 7 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 3 of 6 dated geothermal 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 geothermal plants in New Zealand
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Mercury Energy. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This geothermal plant taps underground heat to raise steam that drives a turbine. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 38.1°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 32% 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: 37/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 #5 largest geothermal power plant of 7 in New Zealand by capacity.
New Zealand has 7 geothermal power plants in this dataset, together about 670 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
Location
Coordinates -38.0631, 176.7272 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Kawerau?
Kawerau is a 100 MW geothermal power plant in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, commissioned in 2008.
Who operates Kawerau?
Kawerau is operated by Mercury Energy.