The wind farm lifecycle

  • Status: COMPLETE

    Duration: 1 year

    • Discussions with landowners

    • Desktop studies of wind farm viability, with acess to historic wind data we can see there is enough wind to make the construction of a wind farm of this size feasible. We’re continuing to use a mobile wind monitoring unit (LiDAR technology) to measure wond speeds

    • Legal agreements for land use and access put in place

  • Status: IN PROGRESS

    Duration: 1-2 years

    • Consultation with landowners, iwi and local communities

    • Site investigations, testing and modelling

    • Environmental impact investigations, including potential impact on people

    • Network connection application submitted to Transpower (completed March 2023)

    • Consent application to be lodged with council

    • Wind monitoring programme

    • Turbine procurement

  • Duration: 1.5-2.5 years

    • Civil earthworks, roads, foundations, and crane pads

    • Electrical works, underground cabling, transmission lines and substation

    • Transport of substation and turbine components to site

    • Installation and commissioning of wind turbines

    • Construction and environmental management plans: to minimise impact on people and place

    • Communicate project updates with community addressing any concerns

    • Remove temporary facilities and tracks once wind farm is operational

  • Duration: 30+ years

    • Wind farm provides electricity to national grid providing enough power for approximately 135,000 homes each year

    • Regular maintenance and operation activities occur at the site

  • Duration: 1-1.5 years

    • Decision made to either decommission site or upgrade equipment to continue operating

    • If decommissioned, turbines will be dismantled, removed and recycled where practical