Wind Energy

26 new wind turbines to be built in Ohariu Valley, 10km from Makara wind farm

Siemens will supply and erect the wind turbines for New Zealand’s newest wind farm, to be built for Meridian Energy Ltd at Mill Creek north of Wellington. The Mill Creek wind farm will comprise 26 2.3MW wind turbines able to provide the equivalent energy to power 30,000 average New Zealand households

Paul Ravlich CEO of Siemens New Zealand says the Mill Creek site, located 10km north of West Wind, is an ideal location, utilising Wellington’s most famous natural resource – consistent and powerful winds that are widely regarded as some of the best conditions for energy generation in the world.

“Mill Creek will draw on exceptional wind speeds, similar to that experienced at West Wind which has a capacity factor of more than 46 per cent, well above the world’s average of 30 per cent,” said Mr Ravlich.

Wind power in New Zealand

1997: 4 MW
1998: 24 MW (+500 %)
1999: 35 MW (+45.9 %)
2000: 35 MW (- %)
2001: 35 MW (- %)
2002: 35 MW (- %)
2003: 36 MW (+2.9 %)
2004: 168 MW (+366.7 %)
2005: 168 MW (- %)
2006: 171 MW (+1.8 %)
2007: 322 MW (+88.4 %)
2008: 325 MW (+1 %)
2009: 497 MW (+53 %)
2010: 530 MW (+6.7 %)
2011: 622 MW (+17.4 %)

By José Santamarta, www.siemens.com