New Transformer Boosts Manapōuri Power Capacity

• Manapōuri Power Station boosts capacity after two years of reduced operation.
• New transformer increases output by 128 megawatts, nearing the station's consented limit.
• Another replacement transformer is scheduled to arrive by late 2025.

New Zealand’s electricity network has received a timely upgrade with the commissioning of a new transformer at Meridian Energy’s Manapōuri Power Station. The addition restores capacity to the country’s largest hydroelectric facility after two years of reduced operations caused by faults in two of its seven transformers.

Meridian General Manager Generation Tania Palmer explained the significance of the milestone. “It’s been a long road of investigating faults, testing solutions and ultimately procuring, transporting and installing this new unit, but we’re now able to generate 128 more megawatts from Manapōuri than we were able to at this time last year.”

The installation has increased the station’s generation capacity from 640 megawatts (MW) to 768 MW, approaching the maximum allowed limit of 800 MW under its consent conditions.

The journey of the new 104-tonne transformer involved a trans-Tasman shipment followed by a delivery via truck and barge. This marks the first time such a large piece of generation equipment has been transported across Lake Manapōuri by barge.

The commissioning is the latest step in restoring the station’s full output. A second replacement transformer is expected to arrive in late 2025, further enhancing the station’s reliability and capacit