Cobb Power Station

Cobb Power Station
Cobb Power Station, with penstock visible behind it
Country New Zealand
Location Tasman
Coordinates 41°6′13″S 172°41′16″E / 41.10361°S 172.68778°E / -41.10361; 172.68778Coordinates: 41°6′13″S 172°41′16″E / 41.10361°S 172.68778°E / -41.10361; 172.68778
Status Operational
Commission date 1956
Owner(s) TrustPower
Thermal power station
Type Hydroelectric
Power generation
Units operational 6
Nameplate capacity 32 MW (43,000 hp)

The Cobb Power Station is a hydroelectric facility on the Cobb River, 112 kilometres (70 mi) northwest of Nelson, New Zealand. Since 2003, it has been owned and operated by TrustPower. Annual generation is approximately 190 gigawatt-hours (680 TJ).[1]

It is fed by the Cobb Reservoir and has a head of 596 metres (1,955 ft), the highest of any power station in New Zealand.[2] From the reservoir, a 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) long tunnel leads through the Cobb Range to the penstocks.[2] The water flow is channelled via two 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long penstocks and the height difference between the intake and the power station results in a high pressure water flow of 7.25 m³/s to feed the six Pelton turbines.[3]

Cobb Power Station can be reached from Upper Takaka via a sealed but windy and narrow 28 kilometres (17 mi) road along Takaka River. The power station building is situated at the edge of Kahurangi National Park, with the reservoir located entirely within the national park.

See also

References

  1. "Cobb Power Station". TrustPower. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  2. 1 2 "Cobb Valley". Department of Conservation NZ. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  3. "IPENZ Engineering Heritage". IPENZ. Retrieved 2015-12-03.

Further reading

  • Martin, John E, ed. (1991). People, Power and Power Stations. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. pp. 316 pages. ISBN 0-908912-16-1.
  • Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country – New Zealand’s National Grid 1886 - 2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. pp. 376 pages. ISBN 978-1-877448-40-9.
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