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Wind power in New Zealand

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The Windflow 500 is New Zealand's only locally designed and manufactured wind turbine.

Wind power constitutes a small but growing proportion of New Zealand's electricity. As of November 2023, wind power accounts for 1,059 MW of installed capacity and over 6 percent of electricity generated in the country.[1]

New Zealand has abundant wind resources. The country is in the path of the Roaring Forties, strong and constant westerly winds, and the funneling effect of Cook Strait and the Manawatū Gorge increase the resource's potential. Over three-quarters (512 MW) of the country's wind generation is installed within a 150 km (93 mi) radius of Palmerston North, with some turbines in the area having a capacity factor of over 50 percent.[2]

Generation capacity and expansion

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Wind power in New Zealand is located in New Zealand
Flat Hill Wind Farm
Flat Hill Wind Farm
Harapaki Wind Farm
Harapaki Wind Farm
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Mill Creek Wind Farm
Mill Creek Wind Farm
Mt Stuart Wind Farm
Mt Stuart Wind Farm
Tararua Wind Farm
Tararua Wind Farm
Te Āpiti Wind Farm
Te Āpiti Wind Farm
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
Te Uku Wind Farm
Te Uku Wind Farm
Turitea Wind Farm
Turitea Wind Farm
Waipipi Wind Farm
Waipipi Wind Farm
West Wind Wind Farm
West Wind Wind Farm
White Hill Wind Farm
White Hill Wind Farm
class=notpageimage|
Large operational wind farms (>5MW) in New Zealand.

As of December 2020, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 690 MW. In the 2020 calendar year, wind power produced 2,282 GWh of electricity, 5.5 percent of the country's electricity generation that year.[3]

A further 2,500 MW of wind farms have received resource consent.[4]

The New Zealand Wind Energy Association predicts that wind could reach 20 percent of New Zealand's annual generation by 2035.[5]

Wind potential

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This demonstration wind turbine in Brooklyn, Wellington, was New Zealand's first turbine. It has since been upgraded. It was in operation for 22 years from 1993 to 2015.

New Zealand has outstanding wind resources, due to its position astride the Roaring Forties, resulting in nearly continuous strong westerly winds over many locations, unimpeded by other nearby landmasses at similar latitude.[6] One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.[7]

Coping with intermittency

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Main article: Wind power § Penetration

Wind farms partner well with hydro plants on the same grid to create combined power plants, because hydro plants can be uprated with extra turbine units to provide highly dispatchable peak generating capacity above the average flows of their rivers, at lower cost than other peak power options.[8]

List of operating wind farms

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Only wind turbines and farms over 5 MW generating capacity are listed. Individual demonstration and prototype wind turbines have been installed at Southbridge in Canterbury,[9] Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and Brooklyn in Wellington. Many small windmills serve as windpumps on New Zealand farms.

Name Commissioned Operator Region Number of turbines Installed capacity
(MW)		 Annual average
generation (GWh)[10]		 Coordinates
Flat Hill[11] 2015 (September)[12] Pioneer Energy Southland 8 6.8 46°35′S 168°17′E / 46.583°S 168.283°E / -46.583; 168.283 (Flat Hill Wind Farm)
Hau Nui 1997 NZ Windfarms South Wairarapa 15 8.65 22 41°22′S 175°29′E / 41.367°S 175.483°E / -41.367; 175.483 (Hau Nui Wind Farm)
Harapaki 2023[13] Meridian Energy Hawke's Bay 41[14] 176[14] 39°11′2″S 176°41′35″E / 39.18389°S 176.69306°E / -39.18389; 176.69306 (Harapaki Wind Farm)
Kaiwera Downs 2023[15] Mercury Energy Southland 10 43 148 46°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E / -46.24139; 169.05583 (Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm)
Mahinerangi 2011 (March) Mercury Energy Otago 12 36 105 45°45′S 169°54′E / 45.750°S 169.900°E / -45.750; 169.900 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
Mill Creek 2014 (May)[16] Meridian Energy Wellington 26 59.8 41°13′S 174°44′E / 41.217°S 174.733°E / -41.217; 174.733 (Mill Creek Wind Farm)
Mt Stuart[17] 2011 (December) Pioneer Energy Otago 9 7.65 46°4′S 169°46′E / 46.067°S 169.767°E / -46.067; 169.767 (Mt Stuart Wind Farm)
Tararua 1999–2007 Mercury Energy Manawatū 134 161 650 40°21′S 175°47′E / 40.350°S 175.783°E / -40.350; 175.783 (Tararua Wind Farm)
Te Āpiti 2004 Meridian Energy Manawatū 55 91 258 40°18′S 175°48′E / 40.300°S 175.800°E / -40.300; 175.800 (Te Apiti Wind Farm)
Te Rere Hau 2006–11 NZ Windfarms Manawatū 97 48.5 40°23′S 175°43′E / 40.383°S 175.717°E / -40.383; 175.717 (Te Rere Hau Wind Farm)
Te Uku 2011 WEL Networks / Meridian Energy Waikato 28 64.4 37°53′S 174°58′E / 37.883°S 174.967°E / -37.883; 174.967 (Te Uku Wind Farm)
Turitea[18] 2021 (northern stage)

2023 (southern stage)

Mercury Energy Manawatū 60 220[13] 40°26′28″S 175°40′17″E / 40.44111°S 175.67139°E / -40.44111; 175.67139 (Turitea Wind Farm)
Waipipi 2020 (November) [19] Mercury Energy South Taranaki 31 133.3 455 39°47′S 174°33′E / 39.783°S 174.550°E / -39.783; 174.550 (Waipipi Wind Farm)
Project West Wind 2009 Meridian Energy Wellington 62 142.6 550 41°17′S 174°40′E / 41.283°S 174.667°E / -41.283; 174.667 (Project West Wind)
White Hill 2007 Meridian Energy Southland 29 58 200 45°45′S 168°16′E / 45.750°S 168.267°E / -45.750; 168.267 (White Hill Wind Farm)

Meridian Energy also operates a 1 MW wind farm on Ross Island, Antarctica. It is not included in the above list as it does not contribute electricity to the New Zealand national electricity network.[20][21]

Proposed and under construction

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Name Operator Projected capacity (MW)
Status Comments Coordinates
Blackmount Southern Generation 35 Proposed[22] 45°43′59″S 167°41′22″E / 45.73306°S 167.68944°E / -45.73306; 167.68944
Castle Hill Wind Farm Genesis 300 Consented (expires 2031)[23] 40°43′0″S 175°56′0″E / 40.71667°S 175.93333°E / -40.71667; 175.93333 (Castle Hill)
Glen Massey Ventus Energy 150 Proposed
Hapuakohe Manawa Energy 230 Proposed[24]
Kaihiku Pioneer Energy / Manawa Energy 300 Proposed[25][26] On fast-track list 46°16′3.66″S 169°26′33.74″E / 46.2676833°S 169.4427056°E / -46.2676833; 169.4427056
Kaimai Ventus Energy 157 Applied for Consent[27] On fast-track list 37°26′53.06″S 175°41′7.33″E / 37.4480722°S 175.6853694°E / -37.4480722; 175.6853694
Kaiwaikawe Mercury Energy 73 Consented[28] 35°52′8.6″S 173°43′50.85″E / 35.869056°S 173.7307917°E / -35.869056; 173.7307917 (Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm)
Kaiwera Downs (stage 2) Mercury Energy 185 Under construction 46°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E / -46.24139; 169.05583 (Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm)
Kohi Rd NZ Windfarms 366 Proposed[29]
Kurow Aquila Capital 130[29] Proposed[30] Up to 24 turbines
Mahinerangi (stage 2) Mercury Energy 160 Consented On fast-track list 45°45′38″S 169°54′18″E / 45.76056°S 169.90500°E / -45.76056; 169.90500 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
Mangapapa Mamaku Renewables 450 Proposed[29]
Mount Cass MainPower 93 Consented As of 2024, project status is unclear after an investing company pulled out.[31] 43°4′30″S 172°50′15″E / 43.07500°S 172.83750°E / -43.07500; 172.83750 (Mount Cass Wind Farm)
Mount Munro Meridian Energy 90 Proposed 40°41′40″S 175°41′36″E / 40.69444°S 175.69333°E / -40.69444; 175.69333
Ototoka Manawa Energy 150 Proposed[32]
Project Huriwaka Manawa Energy 230 Proposed[33] 39°31′52.02″S 175°48′25.7″E / 39.5311167°S 175.807139°E / -39.5311167; 175.807139
Puketoi Mercury Energy 310 Consented (expires 2031)[34][35] 40°32′23″S 176°3′23″E / 40.53972°S 176.05639°E / -40.53972; 176.05639
Ratahiwi Aquila Capital 90 Proposed[29]
Ruarangi Aquila Capital 120 Proposed[29]
Santoft Yinson Renewables 350 Proposed[29]
Southland (also formerly called "Slopedown") Contact Energy 330 Proposed[36]
South Taranaki Offshore Wind Bluefloat 900 Proposed[37]
Taumatatotara Ventus Energy 32 Consented Application for variation.[38] 38°14′22.93″S 174°49′37.52″E / 38.2397028°S 174.8270889°E / -38.2397028; 174.8270889
Vernon Manawa Energy 100 Proposed[29]
Waikato Offshore Wind Bluefloat 1050–1400 Proposed[39]
Waikokowai Mercury Energy 300 Proposed[40] On fast-track list
Waiuku[41] LET Capital 80 Consent declined[42] 37°19′57.12″S 174°41′18.04″E / 37.3325333°S 174.6883444°E / -37.3325333; 174.6883444
Te Rere Hau (repowering) NZ Windfarms Consented Remove the 97 two-blade, 47m-high turbines already there and replace them with 30 three-blade, 162m-high turbines. 40°23′S 175°43′E / 40.383°S 175.717°E / -40.383; 175.717 (Te Rere Hau Wind Farm)
Aokautere Extension NZ Windfarms 45 Consented[43] Extend the Te Rere Hau wind farm footprint to the northwest, into the Ernslaw forestry block. If successful, would be able to install up to nine new wind turbines of 5MW each capacity.

Abandoned

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Name Operator Projected capacity (MW) Comments Coordinates
Hauāuru mā raki Contact Energy 540 Abandoned[44] 37°34′4″S 174°48′18″E / 37.56778°S 174.80500°E / -37.56778; 174.80500 (Hauauru ma raki)
Project Hayes Meridian Energy 630 Abandoned in January 2012 45°30′39″S 169°53′3″E / 45.51083°S 169.88417°E / -45.51083; 169.88417 (Project Hayes)
Project Hurunui Meridian Energy 71 Consents lapsed in 2023[45] 42°59′33″S 172°57′32″E / 42.992595°S 172.958794°E / -42.992595; 172.958794
Long Gully Windflow Technology 12.5 Consents lapsed 41°19′36″S 174°43′4″E / 41.32667°S 174.71778°E / -41.32667; 174.71778 (Long Gully Wind Farm)
Maungatua Wind Farm[46][47] Windpower Maungatua 25 Abandoned[48]
Motorimu Wind Farm[49] Motorimu Wind Farm 108 Consents surrendered[50]
Project Gumfields[51] Meridian Energy 99 No consents, apparently abandoned
Puketiro RES NZ 150 No consents, apparently abandoned 41°06′S 174°54′E / 41.100°S 174.900°E / -41.100; 174.900 (Puketiro Wind Farm)
Rototuna Meridian Energy 500 No consents, abandoned[52] 36°15′0″S 174°1′48″E / 36.25000°S 174.03000°E / -36.25000; 174.03000 (Rototuna Wind Farm)
Taharoa Wind Farm[53] Taharoa C 100 Consents lapsed[54]
Waitahora Contact Energy 177 Consents lapsed, abandoned[55] 40°21′44″S 176°10′24″E / 40.36222°S 176.17333°E / -40.36222; 176.17333 (Waitahora Wind Farm)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wind power sets new records". Electricity Authority. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ^ Bradley, Grant Bradley, Grant (7 June 2011). "Wellington winds too windy for wind farm". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 25 March 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Energy in New Zealand 2021". MBIE. August 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ^ "New Zealand's wind farms". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Wind Energy to be 20% of NZ Generation by 2035". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. ^ "New Zealand wind resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  7. ^ "New Zealand's Wind Resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  8. ^ "Hydroelectric Power" (PDF). United States Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  9. ^ New Zealand Wind Energy Association – Southbridge Wind Turbine Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "List of Generating Stations". New Zealand Electricity Authority. November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Flat Hill". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  12. ^ MCleod, Hannah (1 September 2015). "New Bluff wind farm can power 2500 homes". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Harapaki, NZ's 2nd-biggest wind farm, goes fully operational". New Zealand Herald. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Harapaki wind farm". Meridian Energy. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Mercury opens Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore". Stuff. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Meridian's new windfarm open". Dominion-Post. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Proposed Mt Stuart Windfarm Information". Clutha District Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  18. ^ Cook, Alexa (8 May 2021). "First stage of Mercury's Turitea Wind Farm to be switched on in October after year-long delay". Newshub. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Wind power blows in to South Taranaki". Stuff. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Ross Island wind farm". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  21. ^ "McCully opens Antarctic wind farm". The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  22. ^ Rachel Kelly (1 December 2022). "Southern Generation proposes to build a wind farm at Southland's Jericho Station". Stuff. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Wind farm halves in size". Wairarapa Times-Age. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Hapuakohe Wind Farm". Manawa Energy. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Plan for large South Otago wind farm". Otago Daily Times. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Proposal for South Otago wind farm unveiled". Stuff. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  27. ^ Lawrence Gullery (28 September 2018). "Wind farm's towering turbines worry nearby Te Aroha residents". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  28. ^ "THE KAIWAIKAWE WIND FARM". Mercury Energy. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g "Fast Track Projects Advisory Group: Report to Ministers" (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Wind farm considered for Kurow". Energy Central. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  31. ^ Ian Allen (19 July 2024). "Plans for massive wind farm on South Island ridgeline up in air". Marlborough Express. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Ototoka Wind Farm". Manawa Energy. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Manawa gains rights to develop 230MW Central NI wind farm". New Zealand Herald. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  34. ^ Janine Rankin (5 June 2013). "Puketoi wind farm gets final go-ahead". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  35. ^ Janine Rankin (18 March 2023). "Winding road to turbine sites provides lessons for next wind farm projects". Stuff. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  36. ^ Harding, Evan (8 November 2023). "Contact Energy to lodge $1b Southland wind farm consent application by year's end". Stuff. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  37. ^ "New Zealand's first offshore wind farm gets underway in Taranaki". Stuff. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Wind farm proposed near Taharoa". Stuff. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  39. ^ "$6 billion-plus wind farm investment blowing Waikato's way". Stuff. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  40. ^ Matthew Martin (10 October 2024). "Two fast-tracked wind farms for the Waikato". Waikato Times. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Waiuku locals 'blindsided' by wind farm project". RNZ. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  42. ^ "Waiuku Wind Farm: The decision". Environmental Protection Authority. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  43. ^ Janine Rankin (26 August 2024). "Consent granted for Te Rere Hau wind farm extension". Stuff. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  44. ^ "Windfarm backtrack has heavy cost". Stuff. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  45. ^ Meridian Energy Limited v Hurunui District Council [2013] NZEnvC 261 (4 November 2013) https://www.nzlii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/nz/cases/NZEnvC/2013/261.html "In accordance with section 125(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991, this resource consent will lapse if not given effect to within ten years of commencement."
  46. ^ "Mt Maungatua wind-farm proposal grows 25%". Otago Daily Times. 15 July 2008.
  47. ^ 6 month report to 31 December 2008, NZ Windfarms Limited, 2 March 2009. Quote: "the WindPower Maungatua wind farm ... is now unlikely to proceed in the near future, if at all".
  48. ^ "Wind farm development abandoned". Otago Daily Times. 29 August 2009.
  49. ^ "Notice of Decision" (PDF). Joint Hearings Commissioners. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  50. ^ Miller, Grant (25 August 2009). "Wind farm idea off table as liquidators surrender consent". The Manawatu Standard.
  51. ^ "Windfarm investigation blows on". Northern News. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  52. ^ "Kaipara settlement trust joins one billion tree scheme". 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  53. ^ NZPA (2 February 2006). "Three wind farms planned for Waikato". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  54. ^ "Taharoa". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  55. ^ McKay, Christine (31 August 2016). "Surprise at windfarm consent expiry". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
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