The New Zealand Wind Energy Association says that New Zealand is generally recognised as having some of the best wind resources in the world thanks to its location, with the country lying across the prevailing westerly winds in an area long referred to by sailors as the ‘Roaring Forties’.

Wind currently provides about three per cent of New Zealand’s electricity – 1,040 gigawatt hours (GWh) – in the year to March 2008.

On an annual basis, this is enough electricity to meet the demand of about 160,000 homes.

Wind’s contribution is expected to grow as wind farms currently under construction begin to generate electricity.

When construction of West Wind, Horseshoe Bend and Te Rere Hau projects is complete, total installed capacity will rise to 512.7 megawatts (MW).

An assessment of wind resources shows that New Zealand’s wind has the potential to be used to generate over three times the country’s current annual electricity demand (42,628 GWh in the year to March 2008).

The association says that it is likely that by 2025 New Zealand will have 2,500 to 3,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity, supplying 15 to 20 per cent of the country’s electricity. In this scenario there would be clusters of wind farms in areas with good wind conditions, such as the Waikato, Manawatu, the Wellington region, Central Otago and Southland.

NZWEA perspective

"Wind energy makes both an immediate and long term contribution to New Zealand’s electricity supply and economy. As an additional source of energy it enhances security of supply by increasing diversity in electricity generation – making us less vulnerable to rising fuel costs and electricity shortages during dry years.

Ensuring electricity remains affordable is important for maintaining our standard of living, economic development and being able to compete in overseas markets. Wind energy will help to keep electricity affordable as it has no fuel risks. Nor is it affected by increasing fossil fuel prices or the introduction of a cost on carbon emissions.

New wind farms also deliver ongoing regional economic benefits of over $NZ20 million (over $15 million) per year and create highly skilled jobs. Just one example is the 30 positions in wind farm operations and maintenance in Palmerston North.

Equally important is the contribution wind energy makes to addressing climate change by reducing the overall greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector."

The primary role of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) is to facilitate the growth of New Zealand’s wind energy industry. Much of their efforts are focused on advocating for wind energy and a policy and regulatory environment that enables wind energy and industry development.

For more information visit www.windenergy.org.nz

Tararua Wind Farm

The Tararua Wind Farm is New Zealand’s largest wind farm, with an installed capacity of 161 MW, and an average annual output of 620 GWh.

Located on 700 hectares of private sheep and beef farming land high in the Tararua Ranges, the wind farm has been completed in three stages, beginning in 1999 when the first stage of the project was commissioned. The Stage 2 expansion added a further 55 Vestas V47 turbines to the initial 48 turbines, bringing the total installed capacity to 68 MW.

Stage 3 of the project, employing 31 Vestas V90 turbines each producing 3 MW, was granted Resource Consents in May 2004 and commissioned in September 2007.

Owner TrustPower reports that the wind farm produces 46 per cent of its rated output on an annual basis, with average wind speeds of 35 km per hour, 85 per cent of the time, exceeding the international wind farm average of approximately 30 per cent.

West Wind

Project West Wind is currently under construction on Terawhiti Station and Makara Farm west of Wellington. Construction began on site in October 2007 and is expected to be completed in late 2009.

Project owner Meridian Energy has reported that the project team had to overcome a number of challenges during construction of the wind farm, including the steep and rugged terrain, and difficult access to the site. To help resolve this, a temporary wharf has been built at nearby Oteranga Bay so the turbines could be transported by sea. Meridian has also had to create 33 km of access roads on the 53 sq km site.

When fully operational at the end of 2009, the 62-turbine development will have a capacity of 143 MW and will power the equivalent of 70,000 average New Zealand homes.