Gas-turbine Power For Auckland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 3

Gas-turbine Power For Auckland

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 27. The Government has authorised an immediate start on construction of a gas-tur-bine generating station at Otara,

The decision was made .after a report from an independent medical authority. Dr. R. Chisholm, had confirmed previous reports that there would be neither a risk to health nor any public nuisance from the new power station, said the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand). “It is a matter of great personal regret to me, as it is to my colleagues in the Government, that his project must go ahead without the support of the local authorities of Auckland." said Mr Shand. “We have done all that we have been able to think of. and all that others have been able to suggest, to allay what all technical reports suggest are irrational fears.” the Minister said.

“If serious disruption of [power supplies is to be [avoided, no further delay can [be accepted.” The earlier reports on the project were submitted by the D.5.1.R., the Health Department and the Electricity Department "Erection of this plant has already been substantially delayed," the Minister said. “An urgent need for it was first reported by the Power Planning Committee in July, 1965, although the use of gas turbines as a means of generating for peak load and as a reserve for dry years was contemplated as early as 1957, when provision of 100 megawatts of gas-turbine plant at Korokoro, Wellington, was in-

cluded in the power programme.” In 1958 this plant was deleted from the programme, together with the Cook Strait cable, and by “political direction” Maretai II was substituted for the gas-turbine generators, the Minister said. About two months elapsed from receipt of the 1965 Power Planning Committee report to Government approval of the project. The Manukau City Council i

iwas given information about [the project on October 4, about two weeks later. "From that time on my department and I have used our best endeavours to inform the Manukau City Council, the I Auckland Regional Authority land, through the press, the people of Auckland of the need for the project, of its complete freedom from the objectionable features popularly attributed to it, and of the grave disadvantages of: any alternative,” said Mr, Shand. “Not the least of these disadvantages would be the need to begin immediately the construction of a further heavyduty transmission line into the heart of Auckland.

“We believe that such a power line would give rise to far more legitimate aesthetic objections and interfere far more with the right of individuals to enjoy their properties undisturbed than would the proposed development at Otara.” Mr Shand said gas turbines had many advantages over conventional types of generating plant. “They do not produce solid

wastes in the form of smoke, and they discharge their invisible gases at such speed and temperature that they have no appreciable effect upon the atmosphere of the neighbourhood. When they do eventually reach ground level they are so dispersed and diluted that they are quite harmless “Gds turbines are compact, taking up only a small part of the space required for a i conventional thermal station, | so that it is possible to house a powerful gas-turbine station in a building that obtrudes no more than a well-designed four-storey commercial building." Mr Shand said that as Dr. Chisholm had observed, it was possible to dampen noise to whatever standard was necessary. Dr. Chisholm is one of two officials who recently visited Britain, Sweden, Canada and the United States to examine gas-turbine generating stations in built-up areas. Mr Shand said the New Zealand machines would be ' similar to those in use at Nyham. in Sweden, but with the noise level still further reduced.

“The noise at Nyham has been suppressed to a level quite satisfactory to all in that neighbourhood, but the department is paying extra to ensure a noise level for a multi-machine station entirely adequate for the local conditions at Otara. “There will be no difficulty in obtaining a still lower level should this become desirable.” the Minister said. He said a great advantage of the gas turbine was that it could provide “peak load” at minimum cost when and where it was wanted. Mr Shand said the gas turbine cost less to construct than any other type of generating plant. Because of its “remarkable characteristics” it would be erected at the centre of demand without causing any form of nuisance and without requiring massive and costly high-tension overhead transmission lines. Another important advantage was that -it could be brought into service almost instantly, and thus could consequently provide a source of emergency power at an ac.ceptable cost