New Zealand - Tenders called for Puketiro wind farm

Seven companies have been invited to tender to build a proposed wind farm on Greater Wellington Regional Council land at Puketiro, 37km north of central Wellington. Greater Wellington, with advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers, selected the companies after receiving ten expressions of interest to develop a wind farm. Chris Laidlaw, Greater Wellington Landcare Committee chairman says, “We have been investigating the harnessing of wind power as a contribution to energy self-sufficiency of the region. The Puketiro site is a very good one for its wind potential and low environmental impact.”
A wind farm development at Puketiro could provide the region with at least 26MW (megawatts) of energy, but potentially more than this if turbines on private land adjacent to the land owned by Greater Wellington are included. The seven companies invited to tender are: Meridian Energy, TrustPower Ltd, Contact Energy Ltd, Acciona Energy, RES Southern Cross Pty Ltd, Mighty River Power Ltd and Genesis Energy. Five of the companies are from New Zealand and two are from Australia.

It will cost around $50 million to develop a 26MW wind farm. The wind farm will be paid for by the developer selected by Greater Wellington. “Public consultation a year ago gave us the support to make the land available for a potential wind farm. Tenders are expected to close in September and a contract concluded with the successful developer by the end of the year. The developer can proceed with plans and apply for resource consents. This will provide another opportunity for public input,” Cr Laidlaw says. A wind farm could be built by 2009/10.