Project West Wind

{{Short description|Wind farm near Wellington, New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = West Wind Wind Farm

| name_official =

| image = Project_West_Wind,_from_the_air.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| image_alt =

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| coordinates = {{coord|41|16|35|S|174|39|37|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| country = New Zealand

| location = Mākara, west of Wellington City

| status = O

| construction_began = {{Start date|2007|09}}

| commissioned = {{Start date|2009|04}}

| decommissioned =

| cost = $440 million

| owner = Meridian

| operator =

| employees =

| ps_units_operational = 62

| ps_units_manu_model = Siemens: SWT-2.3-82 VS

| wind_hub_height = {{convert|68|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_rotor_diameter = {{convert|82|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_rated_speed = {{convert|13|-|14|m/s|km/h mph|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_farm_type = Onshore

| wind_site_elevation =

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| ps_electrical_capacity = 142.6 MW

| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 44.0%

| ps_annual_generation = 550 GWh

| website =

| extra =

}}

West Wind is a wind farm located at Terawhiti Station and Mākara, west of Wellington, New Zealand.

It is the first wind farm for the capital city, and has a capacity of 143 MW.{{cite web|title=Wind Farms|publisher=Wellington City Council|date=|url=http://www.wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/windfarms.html|accessdate=2008-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906095543/http://www.wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/windfarms.html|archive-date=6 September 2008|url-status=dead}} Construction of the wind farm project began in September 2007{{cite news|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00482.htm|title=Clark: Opening of Meridian's Project West Wind|last=Clark|first=Helen|date=2007-09-27|publisher=Scoop| accessdate=2008-09-21}} and was completed in late 2009.{{cite web|title=Project West Wind|publisher=New Zealand Wind Energy Association|url=http://www.windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/project-west-wind|accessdate=2010-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116141121/http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/project-west-wind|archive-date=16 January 2010|url-status=dead}} The wind farm received resource consent for up to 66 turbines,{{cite web |url=http://www.wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/pdfs/windfarms-ecconditions.pdf |title=Decision approving conditions |accessdate=2008-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014232449/http://wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/pdfs/windfarms-ecconditions.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2008 |url-status=dead }} however only 62 were installed.{{cite web | title = Turbine farm for Ohariu Valley | publisher = The Dominion Post |first=Kay|last=Blundell|date=2008-01-30|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4380862a11.html | accessdate = 2008-09-21}} It is owned and operated by Meridian Energy.

The wind farm was officially opened in April 2009, when Prime Minister John Key turned on the first 15 turbines.{{cite news|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0904/S00574.htm|title=West Wind Powers Wellington|publisher=Scoop|date=2009-04-29}} Electricity from the farm is stepped-up to 110 kV and is injected into Transpower's national grid via hard tee connections into two of the three Central Park to Wilton circuits (both circuits of the Central Park - Wilton B Line).

Six turbines suffered premature bearing failures in 2011.{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10730825 | title= Wellington winds too windy for wind farm| work=The New Zealand Herald| first= Grant| last= Bradley| date= 8 June 2011| accessdate= 4 June 2012}}

The wind farm was the winner of the Energy and Resources category in the 2012 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.{{cite web| url=http://www.nzeeawards.org.nz/news/12-12-Energy-resources.cfm| title=Controversial wind farm Wins Prestigious Engineering Award| date=3 December 2012| publisher=New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards}}

In September 2019 Meridian celebrated 10 years of generation with the Mākara and Wellington community at the recreation area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/news-and-events/meridian-energy-celebrates-with-west-wind-community|title=Meridian Energy Celebrates with West Wind Community|website=Meridian Energy|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-10}}

File:MakaraWindFarm.jpg