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Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm
Country	New Zealand
Location	Gore
Coordinates	46°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E
Construction began	October 2022
Commission date	November 2023
Construction cost	115m (stage 1)
Owner	Mercury Energy
Wind farm
Type	Onshore
Hub height	77m
Rotor diameter	136m
Site elevation	400m – 460m
Power generation
Units operational	10 x 4.3 MW
Make and model	V136-4.2 MW in 4.3 MW operating mode
Units planned	155 MW
Nameplate capacity	198 MW;
Annual net output	148 GWh (Stage 1)
	[edit on Wikidata]

The Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm is a wind farm in the Southland region of New Zealand. It is consented to have a maximum capacity of 240 MW and use up to 83 turbines.^[1] Originally proposed by Trustpower, it is now owned and operated by Mercury Energy. The 10 turbine, 43 MW stage 1 of the project was opened in November 2023.^[2]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "hot food" for Kaiwera.^[3]

Location and Resource

The wind farm is located about 15 kilometres south-east of Gore, within an area of 2,568 hectares (25.68 km²).^[4] Access to the site from the port at Bluff is "considered excellent".

The prevailing south-west/ westerly winds blow with an average wind speed of 8.7 – 8.9 m/s.

Construction

The project received resource consent in June 2008.^[5] In September 2018 Tilt said that the development was waiting for favourable market conditions.^[6] In June 2021 Tilt announced the project was being acquired by Mercury Energy.^[7] In June 2022 Mercury began talks with the local community over the wind farm.^[8]

Stage 1

Installation of an initial ten turbines totalling 43 MW of generation is expected to start in October 2022.^[9]^[10]^[11] Earthworks began in the first week of October 2022.^[12] A sod-turning ceremony was held in November 2022.^[13] As of February 2023, Mercury say they expect all turbines to be operational by October 2023.^[14] The first turbines arrived in April 2023, and were transported to the site during May and June.^[15] As of July 2023, two of ten turbines had been erected, and the wind farm was expected to be complete by October.^[16] As of mid October 8 of 10 turbines are operational and stage 1 of the project is on track to be completed by the end of October. The wind farm was officially opened on 20 November.^[2]^[17]

Stage 2

Mercury is building stage 2 of the project starting in June 2024 with first generation coming on stream by mid-2026 and completion by mid-2027. They are building an additional 155 MW of capacity. ^[18] In June 2023 they received approval to amend their resource consent.^[19] This change reduces the total number of turbines for the project from 83 to 66 but allows the remaining turbines to be built with an additional 20 meters of height, a maximum blade tip height of 165m. Mercury say this will help reduce stress on the blades and increase their lifespan.^[19]

Construction of stage 2 began in July 2024.^[20]