Introduction and Fact Sheet
Background
WEL Networks is planning a wind park at Te Uku, off SH23 between Hamilton and Raglan on the Wharauroa Plateau.
The feasibility study was positive, and it is now conditional on a consenting process that is in progress.
If we gain resource consents, the wind park will have up to 24 three-megawatt turbines that have the capacity to generate 72 megawatts of electricity and produce enough energy for approximately 30,000 homes.
This clean, renewable energy project has the potential to displace about 168,000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be produced by coal and gas fired power stations.
This is an exciting development for our community trust-owned network company and the earning from the wind park will enable WEL to increase its discounts to all customers.
Looming power shortages have been a major issue for New Zealand in recent times. This is one way the Waikato can help itself.
We will be happy to mail you out more detailed information, including a comprehensive questions and answers brochure.
Just call on our dedicated phone line 07 858 1436 or email windfarm@wel.co.nz.
WEL Wind Park Facts Sheet
Numbers that are fixed upper limits are: turbines, tower height and total height. All other numbers should be considered indicative.
| Estimated total project value | $200M |
| Turbines | 28 |
| Individual Turbine Capacity | up to 3MW |
| Total Wind Farm Capacity | up to 84MW |
| Tower Height | up to 90m |
| Blade length | up to 50m |
| Rotor Diameter | up to 100m |
| Total Turbine Height | up to 137m (to vertically extended blade tip) |
| Sound level | 40dBA at 1km from wind farm |
| Access Road | a) Primary access road is 7km long and 6km wide
b) Secondary access roa is 18 km long and is up to 10m wide |
| Earthworks Volume | 350,000m3 of cut and 30,000m3 of fill (approx) |
| Earthworks Area | 48 hectares |
| Construction time | 12 months |
| Project Area | 200 hectares |
| Equivalent CO2 Emissions Avoided | 168,000 |
| Equivalent Households supplied | 30,000.00 |
| Energy Generation | 256GWh(approx) |
Note:
- Modelling work undertaken has been based on an indicative turbine
- The indicative turbine was the Vestas V90 with 3MW output, and the standard tower height of 80m.
- To maintain flexibility in its final choice of turbine, WEL is seeking consent for a tower height of up to 90m. The consent envelope sought should allow for turbines of up to 137m in height (measured from the foundation to vertically extended bladed tip). In terms of the modelling there is little or no difference in effects between an 80m and a 90m tower, or similiar variations in blade length.
Other key points:
- The on site Quarry is a real bonus and will provide the aggregate required for the project alleviating the need to transport vast quantities of aggregate required for the project alleviating the need to transport vast quantities of aggregate via local roads to the site.
- A viewing platform is planned as part of the project to be located in Te Uku.
- The electrical network connecting the Wind Farm to the WEL network is not part of this consent application but we envisage a combination of 33 and 110kV lines which will also assist to reinforce the supply in the western area including Raglan.
- The Waikato is experiencing some of the country's strongest growth . This major project for WEL also directly fits within the company's growth strategy. Enabling the development of wind energy can also help to meet this increasing demand and provide the diversity of electricity generation required to spread the risks inherent in relying on two major but potentially uncertain sources i.e. gas and hydro.
- The Wind Park will help the region to take responsibility to produce electricity to help meet our organic growth.
Regional Benefits:
- Assisting with the reinformcement of WEL's regional supply and the reliability to the western sector in particular.
- It will create local employment opportunities in the building of the Wind Park and in the expansion of WEL's maintenance services which will further enhance the economic value of the project to WEL and the region.
- Further benefits from this project will also come back to the community via the company's annual discount programme. This further supports the value of community ownership.
Other specific and national benefits;
Supports the government's National Energy Strategy
- Assists with the reduction of greenhouse gas. This project will avoid the annual equivalent of 168,000 tonnes of CO2 (per annum) produced by thermal generation.
- Assists with the reduction of our carbon foot print
- Reduces the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation
- Places the generation closer to the demand and will help support the national grid
- The project will help offset increasing energy prices
- Further supports the Waikato as a net exporter of electricity.
- Will enhance regional tourism.
- Due to its geographic location is that major transmission investment is not required to take the energy from the Wind Park and supply it to its customers.
- WEL has also carefully considered all aspects of this project including protection for indigenous habitates within the project area, via convenanting fencing, and support for local conservation projects.
- Other locally consented projects
- Taharoa C (Kawhia) 34km from site 42 turbines
- Taumtatotara (Taharoa) 37 km from site 22 turbines
Typical Turbine Information:
Critical Wind Speed
- Usual cut in speed 4m/s (14.4 km/hr)
- Nominal speed for full output 15 m/s (54 km/hr)
- Cut out speed 25 m/s (90km/hr)
- Rotor speed 8.6 to 18.4 rpm
Weight
- Nacelle 70 tonnes
- Rotor 41 tonnes
Last updated: Wednesday, 3 March 2010
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