The Southland Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm on Slopedown in The Catlins in the Southland District of New Zealand.
| Southland Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Wyndham Southland |
| Coordinates | 46°21′04″S 169°04′06″E / 46.35111°S 169.06833°E |
| Status | Proposed |
| Owner(s) | Contact Energy |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore wind farm |
| Hub height | up to 135m |
| Rotor diameter | up to 170m |
| Site elevation | 380m to 630m |
| Power generation | |
| Units planned | 50 x 6 MW |
| Annual net output | 900-1200GWh |
The project was originally proposed by Wind Prospect (NZ) Ltd in 2008 as a 150MW wind farm and was called Slopedown.[1] It was purchased by Genesis Energy Limited in June 2010.[2] Plans to apply for resource consent were abandoned in April 2011.[2]
In 2023 the proposal was revived by Contact Energy.[3] It will consist of 50 6MW turbines and cost up to $900 million to build.[4] The wind farm is opposed by the West Catlins Preservation Group.[5] In July 2023 the project was accepted for fast-tracking under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020.[6] Contact lodged a resource consent application with the EPA in December 2023.[7]
Location edit
The wind farm will be located about 15 kilometers east of Wyndham covering an area of 5,500 ha.[8] Approximately 1.6% of the land within the wind farm area will be used by the wind farm, becoming roading infrastructure, turbine pads for cranes to lift turbine components, and a substation.[8]
Proposal edit
To achieve 300MW from 50 turbines, 6MW turbines will be required. These would be larger than any wind turbine previously used in New Zealand with a blade tip height of 220m.[8] In November 2023 Contact said it would make an application for 55, 220 m (720 ft) high turbines, by the end of the year.[9] If the site is built out to the proposed 300MW it will be the largest wind farm in the country ahead of today's largest, the 222MW Turitea Wind Farm.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Conway, Glenn (28 May 2008). "$390m Southland wind farm plan". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ a b Alana Dixon (15 April 2011). "Slopedown wind farm not a priority: Genesis". Stuff. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ Kelly, Rachael (2023-05-11). "Contact Energy plans to build a 50-turbine wind farm in Southland". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- ^ "Contact Energy's proposed 50-turbine Southland windfarm will cost $900 million to build". Stuff. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Diane Bishop (15 June 2023). "Community fight proposed Southland wind farm". Stuff. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Rachael Kelly (23 July 2023). "Opposition to Contact's proposed 50-turbine wind farm grows in Southland". Stuff. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Evan Harding (11 January 2024). "Wind Farm consent lodged; preservation society 'devastated'". Stuff. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Southland Wind Farm Info Booklet and FAQ June 2023.
- ^ Harding, Evan (2023-11-08). "Contact Energy to lodge $1b Southland wind farm consent application by year's end". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
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