New Zealand's Harapaki wind farm, with a capacity of 176 megawatts (MW), has become fully operational, meeting its $448 million capital forecast and being delivered within a month of the original completion date.
Located north of Napier in the Maungaharuru Range, the Harapaki site is the country's second-largest onshore wind array. It utilizes Siemens Gamesa SWT-DD-120 turbines and is capable of generating sufficient electricity to power 70,000 average homes, covering most of Hawke's Bay.
Guy Waipara, General Manager of Development at Meridian, described the completion as “an incredible result and one ideally timed for electricity consumers.” He added, “We're now right in the middle of winter and every bit of generation helps. Harapaki has been generating since last November and was around 90% capacity at 30 June, but reaching full capacity means this wind farm is doing everything it can to help maintain security of supply.”
The Harapaki wind farm is the first of seven renewable electricity projects Meridian plans to complete over the next seven years, in alignment with New Zealand's goal of transitioning to a net zero economy. Waipara noted, “Harapaki shows we have the capability to deliver,” and praised the efforts of the construction team and contractors, saying, “What they've achieved in the face of COVID-19 and multiple weather events is truly outstanding.”
