New Zealand's Contact Energy Mulling Consent for 507-Megawatt Windfarm

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A New Zealand windfarm project, which is to be the country's largest wind installation, is awaiting a final permitting decision to allow the project to proceed on the Waikato coast. The developer, Contact Energy (NZSX:CEN) (Wellington, New Zealand), has received preliminary consent for the 504-megawatt (MW) Hauauru Ma Raki project, which will see 168 turbines installed along a 34-kilometer stretch of the coastline.

In a draft decision, the board of inquiry that is considering the company's application proposed granting resource consents for the turbines, as well as the associated transmission lines and substations, to carry the windfarm's output. A final decision will be made following comments on the decision. Contact Energy also intends to mull over the project details for a few weeks.

There will be some conditions if the go-ahead is given, including a stipulation that the project must start within 10 years and be completed within 15 years. Power output from the project would serve the needs of 170,000 homes and would benefit the nearby city of Auckland. New Zealand's power demand is forecast to grow at 1.4% per year through 2030, even with the implementation of various electricity efficiency measures.

The Huauru Ma Raki turbines will have a maximum hub height of 100 meters and three 50-meter blades, with a total maximum height of 150 meters. If the project goes ahead, 127,000 cubic meters of concrete will be needed for the turbine foundations and other constructions, and the windfarm will require about 95 kilometers of turbine access roads, which would cross privately owned land.

Contact Energy is further along in the consent process for the 177-MW Waitahora windfarm project. The company's other current renewable energy projects are the 250-MW Tauhara Phase II geothermal plant, which is northeast of Taupo and is awaiting approvals. The Te Mihi power station will replace the 50-year-old Wairakei plant and will be powered from the Wairakei geothermal steam field. The Hawea Hydro project would be set up at an existing dam and produce 17 MW of power, and the Clutha hydro projects are under consideration on dams and rivers, which already produce hydropower. Contact Energy has developed New Zealand's first 200-MW, gas-fired peaking power station and first underground gas storage facility at Taranaki to add security to the national power system.

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