Co-generation

Nova Energy is part of the Todd Group and we are the largest owner of co-generation plants in New Zealand. These assets utilise our direct access to natural gas and expertise to provide Nova Energy customers with a total energy solution.

Our co-generation assets include Edgecumbe, Kapuni, McKee and Whareroa, which was purpose built at Fonterra's milk processing plant in Hawera – the largest single-site dairy factory in the world.

Co-generation involves the combustion of natural gas to create electricity with the waste heat from the combustion process utilised to provide process steam or hot water. Onsite co-generation is energy efficient and provides improved security of supply.

Co-generation at McKee plant

In a co-generation project at our McKee plant near Tikorangi in North Taranaki, what would otherwise be waste gas is being used to generate enough electricity and hot water to power 2000 houses annually.

This project is an excellent example of how co-generation technology maximises plant efficiency, using waste gas to deliver electricity to the national grid and hot water for use at the plant.

This gas is sourced from a waste stream that was previously flared into the atmosphere. The units will generate 2 MW of electricity which is exported to the local grid. In a separate project, a further three units are generating an additional 9 MW of electricity using gas sourced from our Mangahewa Field.

This project has received carbon credits (Carbon Emission Reduction Units) from the Government in recognition of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved.