Consent granted for wind farm extension
Nine more large, three-bladed wind turbines are to be put up on the Tararua Range above Palmerston North.
NZ Windfarms has been granted consent for the additional turbines that will stand at a total height of approximately 162 metres as an extension to Te Rere Hau Wind Farm.
It has already been granted consent to repower the wind farm located about 11 kilometres from urban Palmerston North, replacing about 90 two-bladed turbines with up to 30 of the larger three-bladed units that are about four times bigger.
The repower project had potential to generate five times as much energy as the existing turbines – around 500 gigawatts (GWh) per year, or 1.2% of New Zealand’s current overall electricity generation.
That would be capable of powering about 81,000 homes or 250,000 electric vehicles.
The Aokautere Extension Project would have an additional generation capacity of up to approximately 45 megawatts (MW).
The extension consent has been granted by an expert consenting panel, chaired by Lachlan Muldowney, under the Covid-19 recovery fast-track process without a hearing.
A landscape assessment presented to the panel found that the new turbines would integrate with the adjacent Tararua Wind Farm, and with Te Rere Hau repowering project.
“The panel considers that the site is a modified environment due to other existing wind farms along the ranges,” its decision read.
“Landscape values will not be hugely compromised as a result of the additional wind turbines.”
The panel found that overall, the adverse effects on the environment would be no more than minor.
There had been earlier concerns about the impact of the repowering and extension proposals on a home on Forest Hill
Rd, but the panel noted that property had since been purchased by NZ Windfarms, so no further assessment of the landscape effects on that property were needed.
Although the new turbines are much larger than the existing units, they were expected to be quieter.
Noise complaints had dogged the wind farm’s early years of operation, since the first turbines were installed in 2006, until this was later resolved with agreements on operating times and conditions.
As well as installation of the turbines, the extension project involves the building and operation of other infrastructure – including hardstand areas, a sediment retention pond, underground or overhead electrical and communication cables, the installation or upgrading of substations, and grid connection equipment.
In October last year, Meridian and NZ Windfarms announced a plan to work together on the $500 million to $600m project.
They expected a final investment decision to be made in 2025, with completion due near the end of 2027.
The panel issued its decision 198 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.
NZ Windfarms has two years from the date the consents begin to make a start on the extension project.