Wind Project the Latest Step in New Zealand’s Zero-Carbon Campaign

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Researched by Industrial Information Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Seven months after New Zealand Prime Minster Helen Clark released the country’s energy strategy, which states the enforcement of policies to make New Zealand the first carbon-neutral country, Meridian Energy Limited, New Zealand’s largest state-owned electrical producer, started construction on its West Wind Project near Markara in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. The project will provide approximately 142 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid. The groundbreaking ceremonies were attended by the prime minister, representatives of New Zealand Wind Energy Association and local members of the country’s Green Peace Organization.

Meridian has signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with Siemens Power Generation Company for 62 Siemens 2.3-MW SWT-2.3-82V wind turbines. A Siemens representative in Auckland said the turbines being built in Denmark are scheduled to start arriving by mid-2008, with commissioning scheduled for mid-2009. Meridian selected Siemens’ VS series of wind turbines to meet the noise restrictions placed upon the project.

Since the release of New Zealand’s energy strategy, companies have made great changes in their development plans and the way they operate. Meridian took steps to ensure that the company was as close to zero in carbon emissions as possible and was certified as such by a self-audit of its assets. Other companies, such as Contract Energy, announced it would delay — if not cancel — construction of its Otahuhu C power plant, which had already been approved, and shift its development focus on geothermal and wind resources. Other companies, such as Trustpower, Northpower and Might River Power Limited, have been pursuing additional renewable energy projects, such as geothermal, hydroelectricity, tidal energy and additional windfarms to assist in reaching the country’s goal of being carbon-neutral.

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