By going back to the previous quarterly report, I am able to calculate the geothermal plant utilisation for the previous 12 months (FY2020)
https://www.mercury.co.nz/documents/...-q4-final.aspx
On page 2 titled 'Operating Statistics', 'Consolidated Geothermal Generation' for the three month period is listed as 2,615GWh = 2,615,000 MWh/quarter
The geothermal generation capacity at Mercury is 466MW (My post 1347). If run at 100% capacity for twelve months those five geothermal stations can generate:
466MW x 24 hrs/day x 365 days/quarter = 4,082,160 MWh/year
So the Mercury geothermal stations, over FY2020, operated at: 2,615,000 / 4,082,160 = 53.0% capacity
What??!!!?
Now I have to question my assumptions about the utilisation of these Geothermal stations. Where did I get my 94% figure from? I go back to the original MRP Prospectus p49
"Geothermal energy generation provides steady base load supply that is not subject to climatic conditions that typically influence other renewable electricity supply. Geothermal power stations in New Zealand run at full generation output
approximately 95% of the time."
Yes, I double checked. That is what the MRP (now MCY) prospectus said.
Why is the actual Geothermal capacity utilisation at Mercury so far below what the prospectus suggested? Normally in this situation with the figures so far out, I would think that I have made a mistake in my calculations. But considering I have just got a similar result on two separate calculation occasions, I fear I am correct ;-(. Can anyone explain?