Lake Onslow
Lake Onslow | |
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![]() Lake Onslow In May 2014 | |
![]() ![]() Lake Onslow | |
Location | Otago, South Island |
Coordinates | 45°33′S 169°37′E / 45.550°S 169.617°ECoordinates: 45°33′S 169°37′E / 45.550°S 169.617°E |
Type | reservoir |
Primary inflows | Teviot River |
Primary outflows | Teviot River |
Basin countries | New Zealand |
Surface elevation | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
Lake Onslow is a man-made lake east of Roxburgh and south of Alexandra in the Otago region of New Zealand. It lies 700 m (2,300 ft) above sea level. It was formed in 1890 by the damming of the Teviot River and Dismal Swamp.
History[]
In 2019, the Interim Climate Change Committee proposed that the lake be used for a pumped hydro-storage system to provide backup electricity generation in dry years. The project had first been proposed in 2005 by hydrologist Earl Bardsley of the University of Waikato.[1][2] In July 2020, Minister of Energy Megan Woods announced that the New Zealand government would fund a detailed feasibility study of the plan.[3] If progressed, the scheme would be the biggest infrastructure project in New Zealand since the 1980s, employ an estimated 3500 to 4500 people, and take four to five years to build and a further two years to fill.[4] One option could be 5 TWh of storage and a 1.2 GW power station, equivalent to half a year of full production.[5]
References[]
- ^ "Accelerated electrification: Evidence, analysis and recommendations" (PDF). Interim Climate Change Committee. 30 April 2019. pp. 67–68. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ Jones, Pam (18 September 2019). "Massive hydro storage plan to be reassessed". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ "Central Otago hydro project could be 'game changer'". Otago Daily Times. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Thomas Coughlan (26 July 2020). "Government wants 100 per cent green electricity by adding 'battery' power to hydro power". Stuff. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Does New Zealand's plan for a nation-sized battery hold water?". RenewEconomy. 15 October 2020.
External links[]
- Onslow Pumped Storage - Earl Bardsley (Archived August 12, 2021, at archive.today)
- Lakes of Otago
- Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
- Proposed renewable energy power stations in New Zealand
- Proposed pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
- Otago geography stubs