Wind power in New Zealand

Wind power constitutes a small but growing proportion of New Zealand's electricity. As of November 2023, wind power accounts for 1,059 MW of installed capacity and over 6 percent of electricity generated in the country.

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 Manawatū Gorge increase the resource's potential. Over three-quarters (512 MW) of the country's wind generation is installed within a radius of Palmerston North, with some turbines in the area having a capacity factor of over 50 percent.

Generation capacity and expansion

As of December 2020, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 690 MW. In the 2020 calendar year, wind power produced 2,282 GWh of electricity, 5.5 percent of the country's electricity generation that year.

A further 2,500 MW of wind farms have received resource consent.

The New Zealand Wind Energy Association predicts that wind could reach 20 percent of New Zealand's annual generation by 2035.

Wind potential

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. One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.

Coping with intermittency

Wind farms partner well 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.

List of operating wind farms 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,New Zealand Wind Energy Association – Southbridge Wind Turbine Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and Brooklyn in Wellington. Many small windmills serve as windpumps on New Zealand farms.

Name Commissioned Operator Region Number of turbines Installed capacity (MW) Annual average generation (GWh) CoordinatesFlat Hill 2015 (September) Pioneer Energy Southland 8 6.8 Hau Nui 1997 NZ Windfarms South Wairarapa 15 8.65 22 Harapaki 2023 Meridian Energy Hawke's Bay 41 176 Kaiwera Downs 2023 (stage 1) 2026 (stage 2) Mercury Energy Southland 46 198 673 Mahinerangi 2011 (March) Mercury Energy Otago 12 36 105 Mill Creek 2014 (May) Meridian Energy Wellington 26 59.8 Mt Stuart 2011 (December) Pioneer Energy Otago 9 7.65 Tararua 1999–2007 Mercury Energy Manawatū 134 161 650 Te Āpiti 2004 Meridian Energy Manawatū 55 91 258 Te Rere Hau 2006–11 NZ Windfarms Manawatū 97 48.5 Te Uku 2011 WEL Networks / Meridian Energy Waikato 28 64.4 Turitea 2021 (northern stage) 2023 (southern stage) Mercury Energy Manawatū 60 220 Waipipi2020 (November) Mercury Energy South Taranaki31133.3455Project West Wind 2009 Meridian Energy Wellington 62 142.6 550 White Hill 2007 Meridian Energy Southland 29 58 200

Meridian Energy also operates a 1 MW wind farm on Ross Island, Antarctica. It is not included in the above list as it does not contribute electricity to the New Zealand national electricity network.

Proposed and under construction Name Operator Location Projected capacity (MW) Status Comments CoordinatesJericho Wind Farm Pioneer Energy Southland 35 Proposed Referral accepted to fast track Castle Hill Wind Farm Genesis 300 Consented (expires 2031) Glen Massey Ventus Energy 150 Proposed Hapuakohe Manawa Energy Waikato 230 Proposed Hokonui Hokonui Energy 350 Proposed Kaihiku Pioneer Energy / Manawa Energy South Otago 300Proposed On fast-track list Kaimai Ventus Energy 157 Applied for Consent On fast-track list Kaiwaikawe Mercury Energy Northland 77 Under construction Kohi Rd NZ Windfarms 366Proposed Kurow Aquila Capital 130 Proposed Up to 24 turbines Mahinerangi (stage 2) Mercury Energy Otago 160 Consented On fast-track list Mākākahi Kākāriki Renewables Tararua 86 Proposed Mangapapa Mamaku Renewables 450 Proposed Mount Cass Yinson 93 Consented As of 2024, project status is unclear after an investing company pulled out. Mount MunroMeridian Energy90ConsentedOtotoka Manawa Energy Whanganui 150 Proposed Pahiatua Yinson renewables Tararua 56 Consented (expires 2035) Project Huriwaka Manawa Energy 300 Proposed Puketoi Mercury Energy 310 Consented (expires 2031) Ratahiwi Aquila Capital 90Proposed Ruarangi Aquila Capital 120Proposed Santoft Yinson Renewables 350 Proposed Southland (also formerly called "Slopedown")Contact Energy 330ConsentedTaumatatotara Ventus Energy 32Consented Application for variation. Vernon Manawa Energy 100Proposed Waikokowai Mercury Energy Waikato 300 Proposed On fast-track list Waiuku LET Capital 80 Consent declined Waiinu Energy Park Meridian South Taranaki / WhanganuiProposed Te Rere Hau (repowering)NZ WindfarmsManawatū121 (net)ConsentedRemove the 97 two-blade, 47m-high turbines already there and replace them with 30 three-blade, 162m-high turbines.Aokautere ExtensionNZ WindfarmsManawatū45ConsentedExtend the Te Rere Hau wind farm footprint to the northwest, into the Ernslaw forestry block. If successful, would be able to install up to nine new wind turbines of 5MW each capacity.

Abandoned Name Operator Projected capacity (MW) Comments CoordinatesHauāuru mā raki Contact Energy 540 Abandoned Project Hayes Meridian Energy 630 Abandoned in January 2012 Project Hurunui Meridian Energy 71 Consents lapsed in 2023Meridian Energy Limited v Hurunui District Council NZEnvC 261 (4 November 2013) https://www.nzlii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/nz/cases/NZEnvC/2013/261.html "In accordance with section 125(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991, this resource consent will lapse if not given effect to within ten years of commencement."Long Gully Windflow Technology 12.5 Consents lapsed Maungatua Wind Farm6 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". Windpower Maungatua 25Abandoned Motorimu Wind Farm Motorimu Wind Farm 108Consents surrendered Project Gumfields Meridian Energy 99 No consents, apparently abandoned Puketiro RES NZ 150 No consents, apparently abandoned Rototuna Meridian Energy 500 No consents, abandoned Taharoa Wind Farm Taharoa C 100 Consents lapsed Waitahora Contact Energy 177 Consents lapsed, abandoned

Wind power in New Zealand

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