A typical 50 MW wind farm pays host farmers approximately $250,000 per year, is constructed by workers who spend up to $1.2 million locally, and contributes up to $80,000 annually to community projects, according to Sinclair Knight Merz’s study on the economic benefits of wind energy.
Other key findings of the study – which was commissioned by the Clean Energy Council – include:
- Based on current projects, there is the potential for an additional $17.8 billion investment to be made in local areas surrounding wind farms
- For every 50 MW of capacity, a wind farm results in indirect employment during the construction phase of approximately 160 people locally, 504 state jobs and 795 nation-wide jobs.
A report on the study is available by clicking here.
In other wind energy news, Siemens will supply and erect the wind turbines for New Zealand’s newest wind farm, to be built for Meridian Energy at Mill Creek, north of Wellington.
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The Mill Creek Wind Farm will comprise 26 turbines of 2.3 MW each.
Paul Ravlich, Chief Executive of Siemens New Zealand, said that the Mill Creek site – located 10 km north of existing West Wind Wind Farm – is an ideal location for wind power.
“Mill Creek will draw on exceptional wind speeds, similar to that experienced at West Wind, which has a capacity factor of more than 46 per cent, well above the world’s average of 30 per cent,” he said.
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