Cracks force natural gas power plant to shut down
The New Zealand Herald reported that Contact Energy shuttered the 380 megawatt combined cycle facility two months ago after cracks were found in a generator. The power station uses the hot exhaust emissions from its gas-fired turbine to produce steam for more generation, but cracks in welds in the power station's heat recovery steam generator need to be repaired.
A Contact Energy spokesman said the company hopes to resume generation by the end of next month, saying of the shutdown, "It's not entirely uncommon — we've had cracks in welds before and given the time of the year we thought we'd fix it now."
Power use in New Zealand during January drops markedly, as it falls during the Southern Hemisphere's summer, although the increased use of heat pumps to cool homes has increased consumption on very hot summer days. The Contact Energy spokesman added that while the company could bring its 400 megawatt Taranaki combined cycle station online to cope with possible electrical shortages, "there's no doubt you'd prefer to have your plant available."
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CHONGQING - China plans to build a 525-MW hydropower station on the Wujiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality.
The Baima project, the last of a cascade of hydropower stations on the section of the Wujiang River in Chongqing, has gotten the green light from the National Development and Reform Commission, China's state planning agency, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform said Monday.
The project, in Baima township of Wulong district, is expected to involve an investment of 10.2 billion yuan ($1.6 billion), it said.
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With a power-generating capacity of 525 MW, it is expected…