Geothermal Power Plant "TOPP2" Opens in New Zealand
Obayashi Corporation opens Geothermal Power Plant TOPP2 in New Zealand.
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- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 00:04
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (21h 55m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 01:29 (411h 29m after Collected)
Obayashi Corporation (Headquarters: Tokyo, President: Toshimi Sato) announces that the geothermal power plant "TOPP2 (generation capacity: 49MW)", which has been under development by Eastland Generation Limited (EG, Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand, CEO: Alice Pettigrew), an investment company of the Obayashi Group, held its opening ceremony on March 20, 2026, and has commenced operations.
The newly opened geothermal power plant "TOPP2" is a geothermal power plant that will contribute to the further expansion of renewable energy (RE) sources in New Zealand, and will become important infrastructure supporting the country's energy transition through a stable RE power supply. With the opening of this power plant, EG will expand its total generation capacity from 69MW to 118MW, aiming to strengthen its business foundation through long-term power sales contracts for corporations and stable supply to the power market.
The opening ceremony was attended by New Zealand government officials, including Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Trade and Investment, and business partners such as Ngāti Tūwharetoa Geothermal Assets Limited (NTGA, Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand, Representative: Mark Trigg). NTGA is a company that manages the geothermal resources of the Kawerau geothermal field under the philosophy of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and supplies the steam necessary for geothermal power generation to TOPP2. This project is a sustainable development model that utilizes Maori land and resources, going beyond mere energy development.
The Obayashi Group positions the creation and expansion of businesses that contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society as an important management issue in its "Obayashi Sustainability Vision 2050". The green energy business has high affinity with the construction and engineering business, and is a growth field that captures the value chain from power plant construction to business operations.
Through its involvement in geothermal power generation projects such as TOPP2, Obayashi will accumulate know-how in overseas RE business operations and realize its application to geothermal power generation projects currently under development in Japan. Furthermore, by securing electricity necessary for green hydrogen manufacturing, it aims to create strategic value, including the construction of supply chains such as future green hydrogen exports to Japan.
Since participating in EG, Obayashi Corporation has supported the company's medium- to long-term business growth by combining EG's technical expertise in geothermal power generation with the engineering know-how and network cultivated by Obayashi both domestically and internationally. Going forward, Obayashi will continue to promote green energy businesses domestically and internationally through its partnership with EG, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
The opening ceremony was attended by related parties including Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Trade and Investment (8th from right), Hon Tama Potaka, Minister for Maori Development (4th from right), H.E. Makoto Osawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand (6th from left), and Obayashi Corporation President Toshimi Sato (5th from right).
**Overview of EG:**
Company Name: Eastland Generation Limited
Established: 2007
Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand
Business Activities: Renewable energy business in New Zealand. Ownership and management of geothermal, hydropower, and solar power plants.
Website: https://eastlandgeneration.nz/
**Overview of TOPP2:**
Power Plant Name: TOPP2 Geothermal Power Plant
Generation Capacity: 49MW
Generation Method: Binary cycle geothermal power generation
Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand
*1 kaitiakitanga: In Maori, "responsibility for nature conservation." Based on the value that nature and people are deeply connected, it is a philosophy with the mission of inheriting resources such as land, water, forests, and geothermal energy as "things to be protected" from ancestors to future generations.
The newly opened geothermal power plant "TOPP2" is a geothermal power plant that will contribute to the further expansion of renewable energy (RE) sources in New Zealand, and will become important infrastructure supporting the country's energy transition through a stable RE power supply. With the opening of this power plant, EG will expand its total generation capacity from 69MW to 118MW, aiming to strengthen its business foundation through long-term power sales contracts for corporations and stable supply to the power market.
The opening ceremony was attended by New Zealand government officials, including Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Trade and Investment, and business partners such as Ngāti Tūwharetoa Geothermal Assets Limited (NTGA, Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand, Representative: Mark Trigg). NTGA is a company that manages the geothermal resources of the Kawerau geothermal field under the philosophy of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and supplies the steam necessary for geothermal power generation to TOPP2. This project is a sustainable development model that utilizes Maori land and resources, going beyond mere energy development.
The Obayashi Group positions the creation and expansion of businesses that contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society as an important management issue in its "Obayashi Sustainability Vision 2050". The green energy business has high affinity with the construction and engineering business, and is a growth field that captures the value chain from power plant construction to business operations.
Through its involvement in geothermal power generation projects such as TOPP2, Obayashi will accumulate know-how in overseas RE business operations and realize its application to geothermal power generation projects currently under development in Japan. Furthermore, by securing electricity necessary for green hydrogen manufacturing, it aims to create strategic value, including the construction of supply chains such as future green hydrogen exports to Japan.
Since participating in EG, Obayashi Corporation has supported the company's medium- to long-term business growth by combining EG's technical expertise in geothermal power generation with the engineering know-how and network cultivated by Obayashi both domestically and internationally. Going forward, Obayashi will continue to promote green energy businesses domestically and internationally through its partnership with EG, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
The opening ceremony was attended by related parties including Hon Todd McClay, Minister of Trade and Investment (8th from right), Hon Tama Potaka, Minister for Maori Development (4th from right), H.E. Makoto Osawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand (6th from left), and Obayashi Corporation President Toshimi Sato (5th from right).
**Overview of EG:**
Company Name: Eastland Generation Limited
Established: 2007
Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand
Business Activities: Renewable energy business in New Zealand. Ownership and management of geothermal, hydropower, and solar power plants.
Website: https://eastlandgeneration.nz/
**Overview of TOPP2:**
Power Plant Name: TOPP2 Geothermal Power Plant
Generation Capacity: 49MW
Generation Method: Binary cycle geothermal power generation
Location: Kawerau City, New Zealand
*1 kaitiakitanga: In Maori, "responsibility for nature conservation." Based on the value that nature and people are deeply connected, it is a philosophy with the mission of inheriting resources such as land, water, forests, and geothermal energy as "things to be protected" from ancestors to future generations.