Kaiwera_Downs_Wind_Farm

Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm

Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm

Add article description

The Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm is a wind farm in the Southland region of New Zealand. It is consented to have a maximum capacity of 240 MW and use up to 83 turbines.[1] Originally proposed by Trustpower, it is now owned and operated by Mercury Energy. The 10 turbine, 43 MW stage 1 of the project was opened in November 2023.[2]

Quick Facts Country, Location ...

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "hot food" for Kaiwera.[3]

Location and Resource

The wind farm is located about 15 kilometres south-east of Gore, within an area of 2,568 hectares (25.68 km2).[4] Access to the site from the port at Bluff is "considered excellent".

The prevailing south-west/ westerly winds blow with an average wind speed of 8.7 – 8.9 m/s.

Construction

The project received resource consent in June 2008.[5] In September 2018 Tilt said that the development was waiting for favourable market conditions.[6] In June 2021 Tilt announced the project was being acquired by Mercury Energy.[7] In June 2022 Mercury began talks with the local community over the wind farm.[8]

Stage 1

Installation of an initial ten turbines totalling 43 MW of generation is expected to start in October 2022.[9][10][11] Earthworks began in the first week of October 2022.[12] A sod-turning ceremony was held in November 2022.[13] As of February 2023, Mercury say they expect all turbines to be operational by October 2023.[14] The first turbines arrived in April 2023, and were transported to the site during May and June.[15] As of July 2023, two of ten turbines had been erected, and the wind farm was expected to be complete by October.[16] As of mid October 8 of 10 turbines are operational and stage 1 of the project is on track to be completed by the end of October. The wind farm was officially opened on 20 November.[2][17]

Stage 2

Mercury is investigating building stage 2 of the project, expecting to reach a final investment decision in mid 2024. They expect to build an additional 185 MW of capacity, however plans are subject to change.[18] In June 2023 they received approval to amend their resource consent.[18] This change reduces the total number of turbines for the project from 83 to 66 but allows the remaining turbines to be built with an additional 20 meters of height, a maximum blade tip height of 165m. Mercury say this will help reduce stress on the blades and increase their lifespan.[18]

Transmission

Transmission line route and turbine locations for the Kaiwera Downs wind farm stage 1

Power will be exported via a new 18 km (11 mi) 33,000-volt line to Transpower's Gore substation.[19]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Sonia Gerken (4 April 2008). "Wind farm carbon savings 'could be worth 25m'". The Southland Times. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  2. [2]
    "Mercury opens Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore". Stuff. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. [3]
    "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm". Tilt Renewables. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  5. [5]
    Glenn Conway (5 July 2008). "Appeals lodged against wind farm". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  6. [6]
    Rachael Kelly (26 September 2018). "Kaiwera Downs wind farm still on the horizon". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. [7]
    Rachael Kelly (11 June 2021). "Kaiwera Downs windfarm project still viable in Southland". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  8. [8]
    Logan Savory (22 June 2022). "Talks ramp up around Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  9. [9]
    Geraden Cann (13 September 2022). "Construction on new wind farm near Gore will begin in October". Stuff. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Wind farm 'something we will have to learn to live with'". Otago Daily Times. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Mercury NZ commits to $115m wind farm near Gore". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  12. [12]
    Rachael Kelly (4 October 2022). "Earthworks begin at Mercury Energy's $115m Kaiwera wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  13. [13]
    Rachael Kelly (3 November 2022). "Southland has an exciting future in wind generation". Stuff. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  14. [14]
    "2023 Interim Report by Mercury - Issuu". issuu.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  15. [15]
    "Big job transporting turbine parts to Kaiwera Downs". Stuff. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  16. [16]
    Rachael Kelly (19 July 2023). "Two turbines up, eight to go at Mercury's new wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  17. [17]
    "Mercury Energy champions renewable growth as it switches on Kaiwera Downs wind farm". New Zealand Herald. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  18. [18]
    Kelly, Rachael (21 August 2023). "More turbines a possibility for Kaiwera Downs wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  19. [19]
    Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter February 2023.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Kaiwera_Downs_Wind_Farm, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.