KAIWERA DOWNS WIND FARM.
July 2023 Newsletter.
THE STAGE 1 PROJECT.
Stage 1 of the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm project is located approximately 15km south-east of Gore. The wind farm will comprise of 10 4.3-megawatt wind turbines and will be connected to the local grid via an 18-km 33kV transmission line at the Gore Substation.
PROJECT STATUS.
The majority of the civil and electrical works are now completed, along with the transmission line which awaits energisation from the Transpower Gore substation in August.
The focus over the last month has been on wind turbine component deliveries and installation:
• deliveries of blades, nacelles, hubs and tower sections from the port to the wind farm have continued throughout June, travelling by night to minimise disruption to other users. The final delivery is now completed.
• on site, cranes have completed pre assembly (base and mid tower sections). Full assembly (top tower, nacelle, rotor) will continue throughout July and August.
STAGE 1 KEY PROJECT FACTS.
Installed capacity
43MW
Annual production 148 GWh/yr
Wind turbine power Vestas V136 - 4.3MW
Number of turbines 10
Tower height 77m
Blade height 145m
Rotor diameter 136m
Transmission line 18km of 33kV overhead transmission on monopoles
Construction time frame Approximately 13 months
St Peter’s College Rugby would like to thank Mercury for their very generous sponsorship of 130 training jackets for their management, players, and both boys and girls teams from Year 7-13.
St Peter’s College student Moss Wilson with Mercury site manager Stu Davie on site.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
Mercury is focused on engaging with the community to ensure that there is transparent and open communication.
A Community Consultative Group has been established and is made up of different representatives from within the community. The objective of the Consultative Group is to to facilitate information flow between the Mercury and the community and will be an on-going point of contact for the community.
The functions of the Consultative Group shall also include acting as a forum for relaying community concerns about the construction and on-going operation of the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm to the Mercury team, developing acceptable means of addressing (where possible) and managing those concerns, and reviewing the implementation of measures to resolve and manage community concerns.
GETTING A CLOSE-UP VIEW.
Students from Wyndham and Edendale primary schools and Menzies College turned up get a close-up view of one of New Zealand’s longest turbine blades.
Each blade is 67m long and weighs about 17 tonnes, and three of them will be installed on each of the Stage I wind farm’s ten turbines.
The blade was parked at Ferry Road, Wyndham, for a morning so people could see how big a blade really is. Thanks to people from our contractor Vestas who were on hand to talk through this part of our operation.
COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE GROUP.
Registrations of interest to join the group can be lodged on the Mercury Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm website or scan the QR code above: mercury.co.nz/why-mercury/renewable-energy/ wind-generation/kaiwera-downs-wind-farm or by emailing: kaiweradownswindfarm@mercury.co.nz
For more information, or to provide any feedback, please visit: mercury.co.nz/kaiweradowns or email: kaiweradownswindfarm@mercury.co.nz