McKee Co-generation
The McKee Co-generation (co-gen) is 100% owned and operated by Todd Energy. This project has received carbon credits (Carbon Emission Reduction Units) from the Government in recognition of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved.
Location
The plant is located at the McKee Production Station approximately 20 km SE of New Plymouth, some 12 km inland from the Methanex Motunui complex.
Purpose
Waste gas is being used to generate enough electricity and hot water to power 2000 houses annually and increase McKee plant energy efficiency, ultimately reducing the plants’ greenhouse gas emissions.
Benefits
Hot water is a vital component in processing McKee crude due to the oil’s waxy nature. Exhaust heat from the co-gen units is recovered to pre-heat water for the plant’s hot water system. The hot exhaust gases pass through a special heat exchanger which heats the water. The hot water produced by each unit is equivalent to providing energy to another 2000 households annually.
The McKee Co-gen project has received carbon credits (Carbon Emission Reduction Units) from the Government in recognition of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved, relative to generation of the same amount of electricity from a less efficient thermal.
Generating Plant
The McKee Co-gen plant comprises of two packaged electricity generation units complete with exhaust heat recovery systems. The units are driven by large internal combustion engines designed specifically to run on waste gas. This gas is sourced largely from a waste stream that was previously flared into the atmosphere. Each co-gen unit converts the waste gas into electricity. Together the units are capable of generating 2 MW of electricity which is exported to the local grid.
