Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm

The Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm is a wind farm under construction in the Southland region of New Zealand. It is consented to have a maximum capacity of 240MW and use up 83 turbines.[1] Originally proposed by Trustpower, it will now be owned and operated by Mercury Energy. The 10 turbine, 43MW stage 1 of the project is under construction.

Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm
CountryNew Zealand
LocationGore
Coordinates46°14′29″S 169°3′21″E
Construction beganOctober 2022
Construction cost115m (stage 1)
Owner(s)Mercury Energy
Wind farm
TypeOnshore
Hub height77m
Rotor diameter136m
Site elevation400m – 460m
Power generation
Make and modelV136-4.2 MW in 4.3 MW operating mode
Units planned197 MW
Units under const.10 x 4.3MW
Nameplate capacity
  • 240 MW
Annual net output148 GWh (Stage 1)

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "hot food" for Kaiwera.[2]

Location and Resource

The wind farm will be located about 15 kilometres south-east of Gore, within an area of 2,568 hectares (25.68 km2).[3] Access to the site from the port at Bluff is "considered excellent".

The prevailing south-west/ westerly winds blow with an average wind speed of 8.7 – 8.9 m/s.

Construction

The project received resource consent in June 2008.[4] In September 2018 Tilt said that the development was waiting for favourable market conditions.[5] In June 2021 Tilt announced the project was being acquired by Mercury Energy.[6] In June 2022 Mercury began talks with the local community over the wind farm.[7]

Stage 1

Installation of an initial ten turbines totalling 43MW of generation is expected to start in October 2022.[8][9][10] Earthworks began in the first week of October 2022.[11] A sod-turning ceremony was held in November 2022.[12] As of February 2023, Mercury say they expect all turbines to be operational by October 2023.[13] The first turbines arrived in April 2023, and were transported to the site during May and June.[14] As of July 2023, two of ten turbines had been erected, and the wind farm was expected to be complete by October.[15] As of mid October 8 of 10 turbines are operational and stage 1 of the project is on track to be completed by the end of October. An official opening ceremony will be held in November.[16]

Stage 2

Mercury is investigating building stage 2 of the project, expecting to reach a final investment decision in mid 2024. They expect to build an additional 185MW of capacity, however plans are subject to change.[17] In June 2023 they received approval to amend their resource consent.[17] This change reduces the total number of turbines for the project from 83 to 66 but allows the remaining turbines to be built with an additional 20 meters of height, a maximum blade tip height of 165m. Mercury say this will help reduce stress on the blades and increase their lifespan.[17]

Transmission
Transmission line route and turbine locations for the Kaiwera Downs wind farm stage 1

Power will be exported via a new 18 km (11 mi) 33,000-volt line to Transpower's Gore substation.[18]

See also

References
  1. Sonia Gerken (4 April 2008). "Wind farm carbon savings 'could be worth 25m'". The Southland Times. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  2. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  3. "Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm". Tilt Renewables. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  4. Glenn Conway (5 July 2008). "Appeals lodged against wind farm". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  5. Rachael Kelly (26 September 2018). "Kaiwera Downs wind farm still on the horizon". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. Rachael Kelly (11 June 2021). "Kaiwera Downs windfarm project still viable in Southland". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  7. Logan Savory (22 June 2022). "Talks ramp up around Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  8. Geraden Cann (13 September 2022). "Construction on new wind farm near Gore will begin in October". Stuff. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  9. "Wind farm 'something we will have to learn to live with'". Otago Daily Times. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  10. "Mercury NZ commits to $115m wind farm near Gore". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  11. Rachael Kelly (4 October 2022). "Earthworks begin at Mercury Energy's $115m Kaiwera wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  12. Rachael Kelly (3 November 2022). "Southland has an exciting future in wind generation". Stuff. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  13. "2023 Interim Report by Mercury - Issuu". issuu.com. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  14. "Big job transporting turbine parts to Kaiwera Downs". Stuff. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  15. Rachael Kelly (19 July 2023). "Two turbines up, eight to go at Mercury's new wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  16. "Taller turbines approved". Otago Daily Times Online News. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  17. Kelly, Rachael (21 August 2023). "More turbines a possibility for Kaiwera Downs wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  18. Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter February 2023.


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