Mercury NZ Limited has awarded ANDRITZ a contract to upgrade three hydropower plants in New Zealand – the Maraetai I, Ātiamuri, and Ōhakuri stations.
The project includes the supply of nine new turbines and 13 generators as part of a wider refurbishment programme aimed at improving reliability and increasing generation capacity. The contract, valued in the lower three-digit million-euro range, will be recorded in ANDRITZ’s first-quarter 2026 order intake.
The three plants are part of Mercury’s Waikato Hydro System, which provides about 10% of New Zealand’s electricity. Built between the 1950s and 1960s, the facilities will undergo a full modernization, including new turbines, generators, governors, and associated electromechanical equipment.
Once completed, the upgrade will increase the combined installed capacity of the plants by 76MW, from 376MW currently, and add an estimated 87 GWh of annual generation. The work is also intended to improve long-term operational reliability. “Our hydro stations on the Waikato River were constructed from the late 1920s to the 1970s and have worked hard to keep the country powered. We have invested heavily in a long-term refurbishment program to improve the efficiency and longevity of our hydro stations, to ensure these assets can manage water flow in a way that preserves the environment while optimizing power generation,” commented Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton. “These ongoing improvements will make a significant contribution to a sustainable energy future for New Zealand. We are pleased to embark on the next step in our refurbishment program with our trusted partners at ANDRITZ.”
ANDRITZ will handle the design, manufacturing, installation, testing, and commissioning of the equipment. Production will take place at the company’s facilities in Austria.
This is the fourth major hydropower contract awarded to ANDRITZ by Mercury, following previous projects at the Karāpiro, Aratiatia, and Whakamaru stations. The latest order reinforces ANDRITZ’s position in New Zealand’s hydropower sector.
Mercury generates around 8,000 GWh of electricity annually from renewable sources, including hydro, geothermal, and wind. Its assets account for nearly 20% of New Zealand’s total electricity generation, in a system where renewables already supply between 85% and 90% of demand.
