Work on upgrading the Cook Strait power cable got under way today.Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee turned the first sod of Transpower's $672 million inter-island electricity connection project at the Haywards substation in Wellington.It will deliver 1000MW
Work on upgrading the Cook Strait power cable got under way today.
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee turned the first sod of Transpower's $672 million inter-island electricity connection project at the Haywards substation in Wellington.
It will deliver 1000MW of electricity by April 2012, and 1200MW in 2014, between the Haywards substation and the Benmore substation in the South Island's Waitaki Valley.
The high voltage direct current link is known as Pole 3 and will replace the 45 year old Pole 1 facility, which will be decommissioned in late 2011.
"Pole 3 is one part of a much-needed broad investment programme to reinforce the national grid," Mr Brownlee said.
"This new link will enable more renewable electricity generation to supply the North Island while also securing South Island demand in dry years."
Pole 3 will use modern equipment to convert electricity from alternating current, which runs through most of the country's transmission lines, to direct current and back again at the receiving end.
Direct current is used in the new link because it is more effective for transporting power over long distances.
