Wind power in New Zealand

As of early 2008, wind power in New Zealand has an installed capacity of 321 MW, nearly double the 2006 capacity. Wind power now provides enough electricity to meet the needs of 145,000 New Zealand households,^[1] and supplies approximately 2.5% of the country's electricity demand.^[2] A further 172.6 MW of wind farms is under construction, with approval being sought for another 2,054 MW.^[1]

Wind resources

New Zealand has outstanding wind resources, due to its position astride the Roaring Forties, resulting in nearly continuous strong westerly winds over many locations, unimpeded by other nearby landmasses at similar latitude.^[3] One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.^[4] This is roughly three times the annual electricity consumption of New Zealand in 2001. Nearly continuous however does not mean continuous: a high-pressure weather system can cover the entire country, meaning no significant winds anywhere.

Acceptance

Wind farms and turbines generate a wide range of opinions from outright opposition to widespread acceptance. Opposition is due to noise, aesthetics and ecological factors.

Wind farms

Proposed

Under construction

Operating

Hau Nui Wind Farm

Tararua Wind Farm

Te Apiti Wind Farm

Te Rere Hau Wind Farm

White Hill Wind Farm

West Wind Wind Farm

Hauauru ma raki

Hawke's Bay Wind Farm

Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm

Long Gully Wind Farm

Mahinerangi Wind Farm

Mill Creek Wind Farm

Mount Cass Wind Farm

Project Hayes

Te Uku Wind Farm

Turitea Wind Farm

Waitahora Wind Farm

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Wind farms in New Zealand

Wind farms in New Zealand^[1]
Name	First commissioned	Installed capacity (MW)	Projected capacity (MW)
Hau Nui Wind Farm	1997	3.9	8.8
Hauauru ma raki	proposed	0	540
Hawke's Bay Wind Farm	proposed	0	225
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm	proposed	0	240
Long Gully Wind Farm	proposed	0	10
Mahinerangi Wind Farm	proposed	0	200
Mill Creek Wind Farm	proposed	0	71
Mount Cass Wind Farm	proposed	0	69
Project Hayes	proposed	0	630
Project West Wind	under construction	0	142.6
Tararua Wind Farm	1999	160	160
Te Apiti Wind Farm	2004	90.8	90.8
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm	2006	2.5	48.5
Te Uku Wind Farm	proposed	0	84
Turitea Wind Farm	proposed	0	360
Waitahora Wind Farm	proposed	0	177
White Hill Wind Farm	2007	58.0	58.0

Wind turbines

Wind turbines have been installed at Southbridge in Canterbury,^[5] Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and at Brooklyn in Wellington.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Current wind farms, projects under construction, projects for which resource consents have been applied and potential future developments". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-09-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "Wind energy basics" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "New Zealand wind resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-03-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ "New Zealand's Wind Resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-03-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ http://www.windenergy.org.nz/photos/windfarms/southbridge.htm New Zealand Wind Energy Association - Southbridge Wind Turbine

External links

New Zealand Wind Energy Association
"Carbon neutral wind energy can close off nuclear option" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-13.

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[NZ-1] "Current wind farms, projects under construction, projects for which resource consents have been applied and potential future developments". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-09-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[NZWindStats-2] "Wind energy basics" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[NZWindResources-3] "New Zealand wind resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-03-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[NZWindPotential-4] "New Zealand's Wind Resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 2008-03-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[5] ttp://www.windenergy.org.nz/photos/windfarms/southbridge.htm New Zealand Wind Energy Association - Southbridge Wind Turbine

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