Wind power in New Zealand

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.

Wind power in New Zealand generates a small but growing proportion of the country's electricity. As of 2016, wind power accounts for 690 MW of installed capacity and over 5 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 Manawatu Gorge increase the resource's potential. These effects make the Lower North Island the main region for wind generation. About 70 percent of the nation's current installed capacity lies within this region, with some turbines have a capacity factor of over 50 percent in this area.[2]

Generation capacity and expansion

Under construction
Operating
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Horseshoe Bend Wind Farm
Lulworth Wind Farm
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Tararua Wind Farm
Te Apiti Wind Farm
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
Te Uku Wind Farm
Weld Cone Wind Farm
West Wind Wind Farm
White Hill Wind Farm
Mt Stuart Wind Farm
Wind farms in New Zealand. (Farms on Chatham Island and Ross Island are not shown.)

As of 2016, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 690 MW.[1] In the 2016 calendar year, wind power produced 2,303 GWh of electricity, 5.4 percent of the country's electricity generation that year.[1]

Around 3000 MW of wind farms and turbines have received resource consent or are seeking it.[3][4]

The New Zealand Wind Energy Association predicts that wind could reach 20 percent of New Zealand's annual generation by 2030.[5]

Wind resources

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] This is roughly two times the annual electricity consumption of New Zealand. Nearly continuous, however, does not mean continuous: a high-pressure weather system, for instance, sometimes cover the entire country with the result of no significant winds anywhere, and dispatchable sources like hydro and gas must take over via transmission lines like the HVDC Inter-Island.

The strength and consistency of New Zealand winds means the nationwide capacity factor is high compared to other countries, averaging between 30 and 35 percent, with some individual turbines recording capacity factors above 50 percent.

Public opinion

Wind farms and turbines generate a wide range of opinions from outright opposition to widespread acceptance. Opposition is due to noise, aesthetics and ecological factors. A Palmerston North landscape designer launched a petition in 2008 calling for a moratorium on wind farm developments until stricter national policies are in place, including minimum distances from housing, maximum saturation levels, and protection for iconic areas.[8]

Coping with intermittency

Wind farms partner nicely 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.[9] During periods of high wind and low electricity demand, a hydro plant can reduce its output to accumulate water in its reservoir, whilst wind power handles a higher share of the grid load. Then during periods of low wind, the hydro plant can raise its output temporarily, drawing down its reservoir a bit. Given New Zealand's large proportion of hydroelectric generating capacity, it is better-positioned than most nations to uprate its generating stations and grid to handle intermittent power sources such as wind and solar. The available virtual energy storage represented by hydro plants can be one of the main factors limiting the maximum amount of wind and solar power that a grid can accommodate. Further increases in intermittent power source development may require construction of pumped-storage hydroelectricity and implementation of energy demand management techniques.

List of operating wind farms

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

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,[10] Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and at Brooklyn in Wellington. Many small windmills serve as windpumps on New Zealand farms.

NameCommissionedOperatorNumber of turbinesInstalled capacity
(MW)		Annual average
generation (GWh)[11]		Coordinates
Hau Nui1997Genesis Energy158.652241°21′42″S 175°29′2″E / 41.36167°S 175.48389°E / -41.36167; 175.48389 (Hau Nui Wind Farm)
MahinerangiMarch 2011Tilt Renewables123610545°45′38″S 169°54′18″E / 45.76056°S 169.90500°E / -45.76056; 169.90500 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
Mt Stuart[12]December 2011Pioneer Generation97.6546°4′20″S 169°46′2″E / 46.07222°S 169.76722°E / -46.07222; 169.76722 (Mt Stuart Wind Farm)
Tararua1999-2007Tilt Renewables13416165040°20′46″S 175°46′48″E / 40.34611°S 175.78000°E / -40.34611; 175.78000 (Tararua Wind Farm)
Te Apiti2004Meridian Energy559125840°17′46″S 175°48′30″E / 40.29611°S 175.80833°E / -40.29611; 175.80833 (Te Apiti Wind Farm)
Te Rere Hau2006-11NZ Windfarms9748.540°23′18″S 175°43′27″E / 40.38833°S 175.72417°E / -40.38833; 175.72417 (Te Rere Hau Wind Farm)
Te Uku2011WEL Networks / Meridian Energy2864.437°52′42″S 174°57′47″E / 37.87833°S 174.96306°E / -37.87833; 174.96306 (Te Uku Wind Farm)
Project West Wind2009Meridian Energy62142.655041°16′35″S 174°39′37″E / 41.27639°S 174.66028°E / -41.27639; 174.66028 (Project West Wind)
White Hill2007Meridian Energy295820045°45′9″S 168°16′18″E / 45.75250°S 168.27167°E / -45.75250; 168.27167 (White Hill Wind Farm)
Mill CreekMay 2014[13]Meridian Energy2659.841°12′44″S 174°44′20″E / 41.21222°S 174.73889°E / -41.21222; 174.73889 (Mill Creek Wind Farm)
Flat Hill[14]September 2015[15]Pioneer Generation86.846°34′49.71″S 168°17′9.73″E / 46.5804750°S 168.2860361°E / -46.5804750; 168.2860361 (Flat 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 doesn't contribute electricity to the New Zealand national electricity network.[16][17]

Proposed

NameOperatorProjected Capacity (MW)
Planned commissioning date
Coordinates
Awakino[18]Ventus41.6
AwhituTilt Renewables15under development37°16′S 174°40′E / 37.267°S 174.667°E / -37.267; 174.667 (Awhitu Wind Farm)
Castle Hill Wind Farm[19]Genesis429-858consented40°43′0″S 175°56′0″E / 40.71667°S 175.93333°E / -40.71667; 175.93333 (Castle Hill)
Hauauru ma rakiContact Energy540Contact to exit this project[20]37°34′4″S 174°48′18″E / 37.56778°S 174.80500°E / -37.56778; 174.80500 (Hauauru ma raki)
Hawke's BayHawkes Bay Wind Farm Ltd22539°11′2″S 176°41′35″E / 39.18389°S 176.69306°E / -39.18389; 176.69306 (Hawke's Bay Wind Farm)
Kaiwera DownsTilt Renewables24046°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E / -46.24139; 169.05583 (Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm)
Long GullyMercury Energy12.5Consent granted in October 200941°19′36″S 174°43′4″E / 41.32667°S 174.71778°E / -41.32667; 174.71778 (Long Gully Wind Farm)
Mahinerangi (stage 2)Tilt Renewables16045°45′38″S 169°54′18″E / 45.76056°S 169.90500°E / -45.76056; 169.90500 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
Mount CassMainPower69consents declined, under appeal43°4′30″S 172°50′15″E / 43.07500°S 172.83750°E / -43.07500; 172.83750 (Mount Cass Wind Farm)
Project Central Wind[21]Meridian Energy130
Project Gumfields[22]Meridian Energy99
Project Hurunui, Greta Valley[23]Meridian Energy76consents notified April 2011
PuketiroRES NZ15041°06′S 174°54′E / 41.100°S 174.900°E / -41.100; 174.900 (Puketiro Wind Farm)
Rototuna[24]Meridian Energy50036°15′0″S 174°1′48″E / 36.25000°S 174.03000°E / -36.25000; 174.03000 (Rototuna Wind Farm)
Slopedown[25]Wind Prospect CWP (NZ) Ltd150
Taharoa[26]Taharoa C100
Taumatatotora[27]Ventus Energy44
TitiokuraUnison Networks and Roaring 40s4539°12′20″S 176°41′13″E / 39.20556°S 176.68694°E / -39.20556; 176.68694 (Te Waka Wind Farm)
TuriteaMercury Energy360Construction unlikely until 2015.[28]40°26′28″S 175°40′17″E / 40.44111°S 175.67139°E / -40.44111; 175.67139 (Turitea Wind Farm)
WaitahoraContact Energy177not proceeding in foreseeable future[20]40°21′44″S 176°10′24″E / 40.36222°S 176.17333°E / -40.36222; 176.17333 (Waitahora Wind Farm)
Waverley[29]Tilt Renewables130

Abandoned

NameOperatorProjected Capacity (MW)CommentsCoordinates
Project HayesMeridian Energy630Abandoned in January 201245°30′39″S 169°53′3″E / 45.51083°S 169.88417°E / -45.51083; 169.88417 (Project Hayes)
Maungatua Wind Farm[30][31]Windpower Maungatua25project abandoned[32]
Motorimu Wind Farm[33]Motorimu Wind Farm Limited108scrapped, consents surrendered[34]
Te WakaUnison Networks and Roaring 40s10239°12′20″S 176°41′13″E / 39.20556°S 176.68694°E / -39.20556; 176.68694 (Te Waka Wind Farm)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Zealand Energy Quarterly - March 2018". MBIE. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Bradley, Grant Bradley, Grant (2011-06-07). "Wellington winds too windy for wind farm". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  3. ↑ "Generation update". Electricity Authority (New Zealand). September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "Proposed wind farms". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. ↑ "More wind powered generation in New Zealand, producing 20% of our electricity". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  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 2008-03-08.
  8. ↑ Matthews, Lee (2 February 2009). "Petition calls for turbine advice". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  9. ↑ "Hydroelectric Power" (PDF). United States Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  10. ↑ New Zealand Wind Energy Association - Southbridge Wind Turbine Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "List of Generating Stations". New Zealand Electricity Authority. November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Proposed Mt Stuart Windfarm Information". Clutha District Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  13. ↑ "Meridian's new windfarm open". Dominion-Post. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Flat Hill". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  15. ↑ MCleod, Hannah (1 September 2015). "New Bluff wind farm can power 2500 homes". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  16. ↑ "Ross Island wind farm". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  17. ↑ "McCully opens Antarctic wind farm". New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  18. ↑ "Submission on the Awakino Wind Farm Development". Ministry of Economic Development. April 2005.
  19. ↑ Chug, Kiran (2 April 2011). "Planned wind farm would be biggest". Stuff. Fairfax. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Diverse asset and fuel position and a focus on efficiency lift results" (PDF) (Press release). Contact Energy. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2014.
  21. ↑ "Project Central Wind". Meridian Energy Ltd. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  22. ↑ "Windfarm investigation blows on". Northern News. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  23. ↑ "Meridian Energy Project Hurunui Wind CRC111342 CRC111343 CRC111354 CRC111344". Public Notices. Environment Canterbury. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  24. ↑ Mike Barrington (2008-12-30). "Giant wind farm plan". Northern Advocate. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  25. ↑ "Facts & figures". Slopedown Wind Farm. Archived from the original on 2010-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  26. ↑ NZPA (2 February 2006). "Three wind farms planned for Waikato". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "Taumatatotora-NZ Wind Farm". Ventus Energy. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  28. ↑ Rankin, Janine (8 October 2011). "Wind farm on hold". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  29. ↑ $300 million wind farm for Waverley, Wanganui Chronicle, 28 April 2007.
  30. ↑ "Mt Maungatua wind-farm proposal grows 25%". Otago Daily Times. 15 July 2008.
  31. ↑ 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".
  32. ↑ "Wind farm development abandoned". Otago Daily Times. 29 August 2009.
  33. ↑ "Notice of Decision" (PDF). Joint Hearings Commissioners. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  34. ↑ Miller, Grant (25 August 2009). "Wind farm idea off table as liquidators surrender consent". The Manawatu Standard.
  • New Zealand Wind Energy Association
  • "Carbon neutral wind energy can close off nuclear option" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 2007-09-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
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