Te Rere Hau Wind Farm

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Te Rere Hau is a wind farm owned and operated by NZ Windfarms Ltd.[1] It is situated on the Tararua Ranges, approximately 11 km east of Palmerston North in New Zealand.[2]

The first stage was officially opened in September 2006 and it consists of five 500 kW turbines. When complete, Te Rere Hau will have 97 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 48.5 MW, which is enough to power approximately 18,000 local households. The remaining stages are expected to be complete by the end of 2009.[3]

The Windflow 500 turbines, made in New Zealand by Windflow Technology, stand 30 metres high with a rotor diameter of 33 metres.[4] They have a two bladed design,[3] making them easily distinguishable from those of the nearby Tararua and Te Apiti wind farms.

Te Rere Hau is the first commercial wind farm in the country to use locally manufactured wind turbines.[3] By using turbines that have have been designed and made in New Zealand, it is expected that over 90% of the project cost will stay in the country.[2]

As of 2007, installed capacity of wind turbines in New Zealand has reached 321 MW and a further 46.5 MW is under construction.[5]

[edit] See also

Energy Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Power Generation through Renewable Energy
  2. ^ a b Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
  3. ^ a b c Wind bridges energy shortfall, Electrical Automation, August/September 2007
  4. ^ Te Rere Hau Wind Farm NZ Windfarms Ltd
  5. ^ Wind turbines now provide enough competitively priced and sustainably generated, electricity to meet the needs of 145,000 NZ households
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