Meridian Energy Limited Expands Renewable Portfolio with More than $1.8 Billion Planned for New Zealand, Australia

Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Meridian Energy Limited (Wellington, New Zealand) plans to substantially expand its generation portfolio with four major hydropower projects and six wind power projects that are planned for 2012 and onward. The proposed projects are in the planning, engineering or construction stage, and total more than $1.8 billion in investment value.

Meridian Energy generates and develops electricity solely from renewable resources, predominantly in New Zealand, but also in Australia, Tonga and the U.S. Meridian Energy is the largest electricity generator in New Zealand and currently owns and operates seven hydroelectric power stations and four windfarms on the country's two islands.

The Amuri project is a proposed 38-megawatt (MW) hydro station on the Waiau River in the Hurunui district. Meridian Energy has applied for resource consent, but it likely will be four or five years until approval is granted. The project is unique, as it has the potential to provide a hydro scheme integrating power generation and irrigation to the surrounding land in North Canterbury.

Meridian Energy is investing about $50 million on a major refurbishment at the existing Waitaki hydroelectric power station. Meridian plans to conduct preliminary engineering for the refurbishment of six 15-MW Francis turbine generators to extend unit life and increase plant reliability. This is part of a major refurbishment program at the Waitaki station, which is scheduled to begin in 2014.

Meridian has announced plans to develop six major windfarms--five in New Zealand and one in Australia. Once completed, these projects will bring an additional 545 MW of low-carbon energy to the grid. Work has begun on Meridian's Mill Creek windfarm, which is northwest of Wellington. The project utilizes 26 Siemens wind turbine generators of 2.3 MW each, and has a total investment value of $139 million. Siemens is constructing the windfarm, which is expected to take 30 months and be completed in the second quarter of 2014.

In Australia, Meridian Energy is conducting preliminary engineering for the $314.5 million Mt. Mercer windfarm near Ballarat, Victoria. Meridian is working with turbine supplier REpower Australia Pty Limited (Melbourne, Australia) and Downer EDI (North Ryde, Australia), which has been contracted to design and build the 131-MW windfarm. Construction is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, with an estimated completion date of fourth-quarter 2014.

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