Mount Cass Wind Farm

Last updated

Mount Cass Wind Farm
Mount Cass Wind Farm
CountryNew Zealand
Location Canterbury
Coordinates 43°4′30″S172°50′15″E / 43.07500°S 172.83750°E / -43.07500; 172.83750
StatusPlanned
Owner(s) MainPower, Marlborough Lines
Wind farm
Type Onshore
Hub height76.5 m
Rotor diameter120 m
Rated wind speedGenerates electricity up to 122 km/hr, and withstands gusts up to 350 km/hr
Power generation
Make and modelSiemens Gamesa SWT-DD-120
Units planned22 x 4.3 MW
Nameplate capacity 94.6 MW
[ edit on Wikidata]

The Mount Cass Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm to be located east of Waipara on Mount Cass in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It will consist of 22 wind turbines along a ridge of Mount Cass. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. [1]

Contents

History

MainPower initially applied for resource consent from the Hurunui District Council in November 2007. In April 2009 the consents were declined on the basis that the site was an outstanding natural feature of national significance. [2] [3] The decision was appealed to the Environment Court, [4] which granted consent in December 2011. [5] The consent was originally due to lapse in February 2020, but was extended until 2025. [6]

Preliminary work on construction began in December 2019. [7] Work was interrupted in December 2020 by the possible discovery of a colony of critically endangered New Zealand long-tailed bats on a nearby property. [8] In April 2021 wildlife monitoring determined that there were no bats present [9] and construction was then scheduled to begin in late 2021. [10]

In September 2021 MainPower announced that the project was transitioning to an alternative delivery model for the project after significant cost increases, citing risks and effects associated with COVID-19. The project was previously operating with a turnkey Engineer, Procure & Construct (EPC) contract with General Electric, and has moved to a multi-contract model. [11]

In June 2023 MainPower provided an update. Two permanent 76.5m meteorological masts had been installed to provide ongoing wind data. Further geotechnical work was undertaken and the contract for the substation transformer had been awarded. Contractors had been engaged for the 3 main works; Turbine Supply & Install, Civil and Electrical Balance of Plant, to complete detailed design and provide updated offers. [12] MainPower then announced a partnership with Marlborough Lines Limited and an expected construction start of 2024. [1]

In May 2024 Marlborough Lines refused further funding for the project. [13] In July 2024 it ended its involvement in the project. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aoraki / Mount Cook</span> Mountain in New Zealand

Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres. It sits in the Southern Alps, the mountain range that runs the length of the South Island. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Aoraki / Mount Cook consists of three summits: from south to north, the Low Peak, the Middle Peak and the High Peak. The summits lie slightly south and east of the main divide of the Southern Alps, with the Tasman Glacier to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the southwest. Mount Cook is ranked 10th in the world by topographic isolation.

Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 35 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending December 2014, and is the fourth largest retailer, with 14 percent of market share in terms of customers as of December 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheviot, New Zealand</span> Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Cheviot is a town in the Hurunui District of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 1, approximately 112 kilometres (70 mi) north of Christchurch and 68 kilometres (42 mi) south of Kaikōura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methven, New Zealand</span> Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Methven is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located near the western edge of the Canterbury Plains, 35 km (22 mi) north of Ashburton and 95 km (59 mi) west of Christchurch, and at an elevation of 320 m (1,050 ft). The town is a service centre for agriculture in the surrounding area, and is a base for skiing at the nearby Mount Hutt skifield. The town slogan is "Amazing Space".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waipara</span> Town in Canterbury, New Zealand

Waipara is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand, on the banks of the Waipara River. Its name translates to "Muddy Water", wai meaning water and para meaning mud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurunui River</span> River in Canterbury, New Zealand

The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres (1,030 sq mi). The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Rere Hau Wind Farm</span> New Zealand wind farm company

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind power in New Zealand</span> Overview of wind power in New Zealand

Wind power constitutes a small but growing proportion of New Zealand's electricity. As of November 2023, wind power accounts for 1m059 MW of installed capacity and over 6 percent of electricity generated in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waitahora Wind Farm</span> Abandoned renewable energy project

The Waitahora Wind Farm was a proposed renewable energy project in New Zealand planned by Contact Energy but which has now been abandoned without construction beginning. This development was proposed to be located on the Puketoi Range which forms one side of the picturesque Waitahora Valley, near Dannevirke in Southern Hawke’s Bay.

The Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm is a wind farm in the Southland region of New Zealand. It is consented to have a maximum capacity of 240 MW and use up to 83 turbines. Originally proposed by Trustpower, it is now owned and operated by Mercury Energy. The 10 turbine, 43 MW stage 1 of the project was opened in November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harapaki Wind Farm</span> Wind farm project in New Zealand

The Harapaki Wind Farm is a wind farm project in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. Construction began in June 2021 and was completed in 2024.

The Awhitu Wind Farm is a renewable energy project in New Zealand initially planned by Tilt Renewables. The development is proposed to be located on the Awhitu Peninsula near Waiuku on the west coast south of Auckland. As of 2016 the project was being privately pursued.

Project Hurunui is a proposed wind farm located between Omihi and Greta Valley in north Canterbury, New Zealand. Meridian Energy is developing the wind farm, which is planned to produce up to 75.9 MW from 2014.

MainPower New Zealand Limited is an electricity distribution company, based in Rangiora, New Zealand, responsible for electricity distribution to nearly 42,000 customers in the Canterbury region north of the Waimakariri River. MainPower was formed in 1993, after the Energy Companies Act 1992 required the North Canterbury Electric Power Board to reform into a commercial power company. More reforms in 1998 required electricity companies nationally to split their lines and retail businesses, with MainPower retaining its lines business and selling its retail business to Contact Energy.

The Mt Stuart Wind Farm is a wind farm in New Zealand constructed by Pioneer Generation. It is located close to the settlements of Manuka Creek and Mount Stuart, 15 kilometres west of Milton in the Otago region of the South Island. It stands at an altitude of 434 metres (1,424 ft) atop the promontory which gives it its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in New Zealand</span> Overview of solar power in New Zealand

Solar power in New Zealand is increasing in capacity, despite no government subsidies or interventions being available. As of the end of April 2024, New Zealand has 420 MW of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar power installed, of which 146 MW (35%) was installed in the last 12 months. In the 12 months to December 2023, 372 gigawatt-hours of electricity was estimated to have been generated by grid-connected solar, 0.85% of all electricity generated in the country.

The Castle Hill Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm being developed by Genesis Energy. It will have up to 286 wind turbines with potential output of up to 858 MW, depending on what model(s) of wind turbines are selected. The project is estimated to cost more than $1.6 billion and will be New Zealand's largest wind farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangitata Diversion Race</span> Irrigation scheme in Canterbury, New Zealand

The Rangitata Diversion Race or RDR is a combined irrigation and power generation scheme that diverts water from the Rangitata River to irrigate over 66,000 hectares of farmland in Mid-Canterbury, New Zealand. The RDR project was the first major river diversion in New Zealand, and the largest irrigation scheme in the country. It was originally constructed by the Public Works Department between 1937 and 1944. The main canal is 67 km long, 10 m wide and 3 m deep.

The Puketoi Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm project in the Tararua District of New Zealand. The project is planned by Mercury Energy.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lines companies unite to deliver South Island's largest wind farm". 28 September 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Paul Rogers (2 April 2009). "Resource Consent Application - Report and Determination by Hearing Commissioners" (PDF). Hurunui District Council.
  3. ↑ David Williams (7 May 2009). "Wind farm plan rejected". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "MainPower appeals Mt Cass wind farm decision" (PDF) (Press release). MainPower. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  5. ↑ "Mt Cass Wind Farm Receives Resource Consent" (Press release). Mainpower. 14 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Mt Cass Wind Farm". Hurunui District Council. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ↑ Emma Dangerfield (16 December 2019). "South Island's biggest wind farm to be constructed on Canterbury's Mt Cass". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  8. ↑ David Williams (22 December 2020). "Threatened bats found near planned wind farm". Newsroom. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "New research confirms there are no long-tailed bats at Mt Cass". Mt Cass Wind Farm. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  10. ↑ Robyn Bristow (22 April 2021). "Construction of South Island's largest wind farm to start soon in Nth Canterbury". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Farm, Mt Cass Wind. "Mt Cass Wind Farm transitions to new delivery model". www.mtcasswindfarm.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Farm, Mt Cass Wind. "Project Update - June 2023". www.mtcasswindfarm.co.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Mt Cass Wind Farm exploring next steps". Mt Cass Wind Farm. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Ian Allen (19 July 2024). "Plans for massive wind farm on South Island ridgeline up in air". Marlborough Express. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.