Our Projects Within the Renewable Energy Sector

We’ve been privileged to be involved in a number of renewable energy projects.  Ben Jensen of Jensen Steel Fabricators says:

“The whole team really enjoys working on renewable energy projects. The significance such projects provide to the regions where they are constructed and surrounding regions, is huge. We’re very fortunate to play a part in this construction process and be part of something pretty special”.  

A few of the renewable energy projects we’ve been involved in include: ‍

• ‍Huntly Power Station - One of our first projects in this space and one of national significance.   The Huntly Power Station, to this day is still the largest thermal power station in New Zealand.

• ‍Tauhaura-Geothermal Steam Turbine Power Station - This was one of our bigger projects over the last few years, with over 1000 tonnes of steel used for a 168MV geothermal steam turbine power station in Taupo. A lot of the steel used in this project had an intumescent fire protective paint coating applied.  

• ‍RotoKawa Geothermal Plant - One of our earlier renewable energy projects was the Rotokawa Thermal Power Station.  The structure stands as tall as an 11-storey building and includes 10m deep underground structures. ‍

• ‍Bio-Mass Boilers for Dairy Factories - We’ve also been involved in construction of Bio-Mass Boilers for both Fonterra in Waitoa and Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) in Tokoroa. Bio-mass boilers are starting to phase out the fossil fuel coal or gas boilers. Bio-mass boilers tend to use wood chip or wood by-product as a fuel to create the energy required for their plants.

• ‍90 Devonport Road Tauranga - A project we’re currently working on, that while it’s not in the renewable energy sector directly, it’s a Green Star project.  Destined to one day house the Tauranga City Council team, it adheres to Green Star principles - powered by renewables, highly efficient and built with lower carbon materials. This project is set to be the largest modern mass timber office building in New Zealand.  
  
  While timber is a focus, steel still has a part to play in this build. We’re providing the large K-Frame bracing elements which you can see run the height of the structure in different locations. Throughout the building, steel is also incorporated in aesthetic design features, as well as stairways and plant rooms.

It’s exciting to work within an industry that can support the renewable energy sector. Steel will increasingly be used for such projects due to the fact steel is temperature resistant (retains its strength even at extremely high temperatures and withstands sub-zero temperatures), naturally hygienic, corrosion resistant and built to stand the test of time!

To view the renewable energy projects we’ve been involved in and to keep up to date with what we’re working on now, please head over to our projects page. www.jensensteel.co.nz/projects

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