SOURCES OF GEOTHERMAL STEAM FOR POWER

Taupo Times, Volume V, Issue 208, 27 January 1956, Page 4

SOURCES OF GEOTHERMAL STEAM FOR POWER

Little exploratory work has been done at Orakei-korako since the famous Doctor Ferdinand Hochstetter visited the place in 1859. The "hotspots" about a mile upsteam from the popular thermal area and which were given careful examination by Messrs Benseman and Mautner, are praetieally unknown to the public. During the course of the investigations Mr Benseman discovered that at one or two spots the bed of the Waikato River is actually boiling, indicating that the thermal activity is not eonfined to the land on either side of the river but continues under fhe river bed. Detailed temperature measurements over about two miles of river showed only one or two "dead" i spots. In all others the bed of the

river, at a short distance from the bank, varied from warm to hot. Even now plans are under way to improve the access to Orakei-korako, which is now served by a one-way track dating back to the days of the Armed Oonstabulary. A new road is being built in from the AtiamuriTanpo highway and big improvements are to be made to the existing road from Rotorua. When the Ohakuri power plant comes into operation (planned for 1961) the lake formed will cover the lower parts of the present scenic portion of Orakei-korako's thermal area. But it will not affect the power potential of the area. In fact, some scientists think it will result in increased thermal activity. If this should be the case, New Zealand may have another Wairakei with a hydro-electric station on the spot to facilitate transmission of power from any geothermal station which might be built. As the search for more power intensifies, so Orakeikorako will receive more and more attention. It may be one of the big power plants of the future.