Arapuni Power Station
Arapuni Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Mercury Energy, and is the seventh and penultimate hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. It is also the oldest currently generating, the first government-built, and the largest capacity single hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. The two power houses that make up the Maraetai Power Station have a larger combined capacity however.
| Arapuni Dam | |
|---|---|
Arapuni power station, as seen from the Arapuni Suspension Bridge | |
Location of Arapuni Dam in New Zealand | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Lake Arapuni, Waikato River |
| Coordinates | 38°4′17″S 175°38′36″E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1929 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Waikato River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Arapuni |
| Arapuni Power Station | |
| Operator(s) | Mercury Energy |
| Turbines | 8× Francis turbines |
| Installed capacity | 196.66 MW (263,730 hp) |
| Annual generation | 805 GWh (2,900 TJ) |
Arapuni, due to its proximity to Hamilton, plays an important part in voltage support and frequency keeping in the city and the wider Waikato region. Continuous improvement and refurbishment of the station's generation equipment ensures Arapuni remains efficient.
The powerhouse and dam at Arapuni are under protection of the Historic Places Trust, becoming Category I Historic Places in November 1987 and August 1991 respectively. It is one of the few generating power stations in New Zealand to be listed on the register.