21 May 2025
The second of two brand-new 120MVA power transformers was installed at Queenstown’s Frankton substation late last week.
The $20.5 million installation is part of a broader programme of work, run by power providers Transpower, Aurora Energy and PowerNet, to build a more resilient and secure electricity supply to the region.
Transpower’s Executive General Manager Grid Delivery Mark Ryall said the new transformers, along with work starting later this year to upgrade Transpower’s transmission lines from Cromwell to Frankton, will ensure resilience and increase available electricity to the region by 50% when complete.
He said that the work will secure the region’s electricity supply through to the 2030s, and that the three providers were looking at ways to further secure the supply beyond that.
“That work is already well underway,” Ryall said. “We’re looking at what we need to do to achieve the electricity network that’s needed to support a carbon-zero visitor economy and enable continued growth and development in Queenstown and surrounding areas.”
Aurora Energy’s Chief Executive Richard Fletcher said the power providers had been working with the Queenstown Lakes District Council and other major energy users in the region for the last 12 months, to forecast the future electricity needs for the region and investigate options.
“It’s vital that we have a good understanding of what’s driving electricity growth now, and what the drivers and impacts of future electrification will be so we can continue to support the economic growth of the area,” he said.
Fletcher noted that adding resilience to the region’s electricity supply, whether from new lines into the Wakatipu Basin or other local electricity options, would require careful consideration.
“We need to make sure the improvement options customers are given are realistic, cost-effective and will have the least possible impact on the Queenstown area’s environment and landscape.”
PowerNet’s Acting Chief Executive David Stevens said the power providers had been looking at a range of solutions to strengthen the region’s electricity network, including transmission upgrades, local generation options, large-scale solar developments, and battery storage.
“Local generation will be an important part of building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Queenstown,” Stevens said.
“However, to meet the scale of growth forecast for the region, a reliable supply of additional renewable energy from outside the area will also be essential. It’s about finding the right balance to ensure we can support both current demand and future development.”
Transpower’s Executive General Manager Grid Development Matt Webb said that “grid-scale solar” and other technologies may also be viable options. Webb is interested in talking to anyone with a large-scale project in the works to see how it might be incorporated into wider development plans.
Representatives from Transpower, Aurora Energy and PowerNet will be on site at Electrify Queenstown 26-28 May and happy to chat.
Energising Queenstown website – www.energisingqueenstown.co.nz
Transpower, Aurora Energy and PowerNet have set up a website to help the people of Queenstown and surrounding areas to find solution to meet the region’s increased electricity demand in the future.
For further information please contact:
- Aurora Energy: Lisa Gloag, Customer and Communications Manager, 021 185 4988 or [email protected]
- PowerNet: Grace Frisby, Communication Co-ordinator, 021 020 44414 or [email protected]
- Transpower: Email [email protected] or call 021 195 8613