New Zealand's Mercury moves ahead with 43-MW wind project

New Zealand power generator and retailer Mercury NZ Ltd (NZE:MCY) announced on Tuesday that it will start building its 43-MW Kaiwera Downs stage I wind farm in the South Island in October this year, having just executed contracts for procurement and construction.

Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) will supply the turbines for the project, Higgins will take over the civil balance of plant (BOP) works, ElectroNet is providing the electrical BOP, while PowerNet will build a new 33-kV line leading to the Gore substation, Mercury said.

In a separate announcement, the Danish wind turbine maker said it would supply and install ten V136-4.2 MW machines in 4.3 MW operating mode, and service and maintain the wind farm under a 30-year Active Output Management 5000 agreement.

Located south of the town of Gore, the stage I project would cost NZD 115 million (USD 69m/EUR 69m), excluding capitalised interest, Mercury added. Its ten wind turbines will generate around 148 GWh per year. The commissioning process is due to start in the third quarter of 2023, according to Vestas’ schedule.

Following the second stage, the Kaiwera Downs complex will reach the consented capacity of 240 MW.

(NZD 1.0 = USD 0.6/EUR 0.6)

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