Turitea Wind Farm

Turitea Wind Farm is a wind farm being built by Mercury Energy[5] which, when complete, will become the largest wind farm in New Zealand.[1] Most of the land is located in the Turitea Reserve, near Turitea, in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The project was initially planned for 131 wind turbines[6] with a capacity of over 300 MW,[7] while final approval was given for 60 turbines.[3]

Turitea Wind Farm
CountryNew Zealand
LocationPalmerston North
Coordinates40°26′28″S 175°40′17″E
StatusUnder construction
Construction began29 October 2019[1]
Owner(s)Mercury Energy
Wind farm
TypeOnshore wind farm
Hub height94 metres (308 ft) m
Rotor diameter112 metres (367 ft) m
Power generation
Make and modelVestas V112-3.35MW and V112-3.45MW[2]
Units planned60[3]
Units under const.33[1]
Nameplate capacity222 MW[4]

The wind farm is proposed for both land owned by the Palmerston North District Council and surrounding private farm land. In 2005, and following a competitive bid process, the Council selected Mercury (then called Mighty River Power) to develop the project.[8]

Construction of the Northern stage, consisting of 33 turbines, began in October 2019,[1] with commissioning expected in early 2021.[9] Construction of the Southern stage of 27 turbines will follow.[10]

Work on the wind farm was halted when the country went into lockdown in March 2020.[4]

Mighty River Power applied for resource consents for 131 turbines in 2008,[11] and later applied to the Environment Minister for the project to be called in under the Resource Management Act. The call in process can result in faster processing of major projects, but in this case it coincided with the 2008 election and change of government. The Palmerston North City Council decided to continue with processing of the application, despite Mighty River Power's application for call-in.[12]

In December 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, directed that the project be called in[13] and the Board of Inquiry invited submissions and commenced sitting in 2009.[14] The hearing adjourned for a period in 2009, to enable Mighty River Power to redesign the proposal, reducing it to 104 turbines.[8] In 2010, the Board resumed the hearing, with a draft decision in February 2011 permitting 61 turbines.[8]

In 2011, the Board issued its final decision, approving a wind farm of 60 turbines, up to 3MW each.[3] In October 2011, Mighty River Power stated in its annual report that the Turitea Wind Farm was not likely to be economically viable before 2015.[15]

See also

References
  1. Rankin, Janine (29 October 2019). "Foundations started to harness Manawatū winds". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. "Turitea Wind Farm, Palmerston North". Power Technology. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. "Final Report and Decision on Turitea Wind Farm Proposal". Ministry for the Environment. 6 September 2011.
  4. Carroll, Melanie (25 March 2020). "Construction of 33 wind turbines at Turitea wind farm near Palmerston North confirmed". Stuff. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  5. Bradley, Grant (27 March 2019). "Mercury building a $256 million wind farm near Palmerston North". The New Zealand Herald.
  6. "Planned Wind Farm Has Nine Less Turbines". 16 January 2009.
  7. "Turitea site a potential world-beater". Mighty River Power. 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008.
  8. Miller, Grant (12 February 2011). "Wind farm plan derailed". Manawatu Standard.
  9. Rankin, Janine (27 March 2019). "Construction of 33 wind turbines at Turitea wind farm near Palmerston North confirmed". Stuff. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  10. Rankin, Janine (12 November 2019). "Second stage of New Zealand's biggest wind farm to go ahead". Stuff. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. "Turitea Wind Farm AEE" (PDF). Mighty River Power. February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24.
  12. "Turbine consent process proceeds". Manawatu Standard. 14 Nov 2008.
  13. "Ministerial direction for call in". Ministry for the Environment. 18 December 2008.
  14. "Mighty River Power's proposal for a wind farm at Turitea". Ministry for the Environment.
  15. Rankin, Janine (8 October 2011). "Wind farm on hold". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
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