Image of Wairakei Thermal Power Plant

-- The Wairakei power plant is situated in the Taupo Volcanic Zone and was commissioned in November 1958. It sits above a large geothermal system containing water at temperatures up to 240C. It was the first power station in the world to use natural geothermal water as a steam source for turbines. Over 50 wells are presently used with an average depth of over 610m, the deepest being 1500m. About 1,500 tonnes of steam per hour and 3,500 tonnes of 130-176C water per hour are used to generate electricity