Biggest Earth Dam


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Earth Dam Profile

Submarine Cable

Concrete Dam

Interested groups explore New Zealand's biggest scheme involving dams, canals, storage, generation and transportation of power.   

Non polluting, renewable hydropower is a major asset for New Zealand.

As the highest demand for electricity comes from the North Island where 75% of the people live but most of the Hydro Power is generated in this zone.

Studies
KANES groups can visit New Zealand's largest scheme for better appreciation of the various aspects. We can learn about the physics, engineering, electricity generation, electricity distribution systems.  We see  environmental considerations, recreation and irrigation advantages etc

Dams
We look at both concrete and earth dams and see the advantages and applications of each. You can follow the techniques and considerations of building one of these.

Canals
We see how these are constructed how water moves and how they cope with floods and flow variations.

Environmental Impact
We look at the losses of land and irrigation resources to be balanced by the advantages of power.

Maintaining supply
Water is needed to flow to meet a varying demand, the supply rate of water depends on the season and the rain fall in the distant mountains.  We see how the supply vs demand differences are solved.

Maintenance of schemes
Interested groups are able to gain an appreciation of the aspects that need to be replaced and repaired periodically.

Systems of converting water into energy
There are developing techniques for building water engines.  Interested groups can see some of these applications.

Transportation of electricity
Because of the distance, terrain and human resistance to power transmission we see these and discuss the many considerations involved.

Education Centres
KANES arrange for talks and further studies for groups with special interests in these studies 

Related Studies
You can extend your learning to weather, tectonics, rivers and the many sciences, safety and physics aspects HEP generation involves.

Other energy sources
The North Island's need is much greater and cannot rely entirely on the submarine cable and hydro power availability. from the South Island generators. Groups travelling in the North Island can view plants that generate power from geothermal steam, coal, natural gas and wind. As oil is expensive it is only used when necessary. 

See Also:- Rivers  Engineering - Dams & Canals  Engineering - Water management  LINK Benmore Power project