Meridian’s Harapaki wind farm fully operational

New Zealand’s second largest wind farm is now fully operational, having been delivered within a month of its original completion date and inside its $448 million capital forecast.

It’s an incredible result and one ideally timed for electricity consumers, says Meridian development general manager Guy Waipara.

 “We’re now right in the middle of winter and every bit of generation helps,” he says.

“Harapaki has been generating since last November and was around 90% capacity at June 30, but reaching full capacity means this wind farm is doing everything it can to help maintain security of supply.”

Meridian shares New Zealand’s goal of transitioning to a net-zero economy and has its own aspiration to deliver seven new renewable electricity projects in seven years, with Harapaki the first of these to be completed.

Harapaki Wind Farm north of Napier on SH5 in the Maungaharuru Range uses Siemens Gamesa SWT-DD-120 turbines.

It can produce enough electricity to power 70,000 average homes, the equivalent of most of Hawke’s Bay.

Meanwhile, a report says Marlborough Lines has withdrawn from a proposed 22-turbine wind farm at Mt Cass north of Amberley near Christchurch.