Project West Wind
Encyclopedia
Project West Wind is a wind farm
located at Terawhiti Station
and Makara
Farm west of Wellington
, New Zealand
.
It is the first wind farm for the capital city, and has a capacity of 143 MW. Construction of the wind farm project began in September 2007 and was completed in late 2009. It is owned and operated by Meridian Energy
.
The wind farm was officially opened in April 2009, when Prime Minister
John Key
turned on the first 15 turbines.
The wind farm received resource consent for up to 66 turbines, however only 62 were installed.
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
located at Terawhiti Station
Terawhiti Station
Terawhiti Station is one of New Zealand's oldest and largest sheep stations, located along the south coast of Wellington. Terawhiti Station has seen a diverse range of land uses over the past 160 years. Originally a cattle station, Terawhiti grew into one of New Zealand's largest sheep stations...
and Makara
Makara, New Zealand
Makara is a locality located at the western edge of Wellington, New Zealand, close to the shore of the Tasman Sea.With road access over passes from either Karori or Johnsonville/Ohariu, Makara is a rural area with sparse development....
Farm west of Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It is the first wind farm for the capital city, and has a capacity of 143 MW. Construction of the wind farm project began in September 2007 and was completed in late 2009. It is owned and operated by Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
.
The wind farm was officially opened in April 2009, when Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
turned on the first 15 turbines.
The wind farm received resource consent for up to 66 turbines, however only 62 were installed.
External links
- Meridian Energy - Project West Wind information page