Te Uku Wind Farm

{{Infobox power station

| name = Te Uku Wind Farm

| image = Te Uku Wind Farm (2).jpg

| image_caption = The wind farm in June 2012

| location = Te Uku, near Raglan

| country = New Zealand

| coordinates = {{coord|37|52|42|S|174|57|47|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| owner = Meridian Energy and New Zealand

| status = Operational

| ps_electrical_capacity = 64 MW

| construction_began = October 2010

| commissioned = {{start date|2011|11|19|df=y}}

| decommissioned =

| cost = $230m

| operator =

| ps_units_operational = 28

| ps_units_manu_model = Siemens: SWT-2.3-101{{cite press release|url=http://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/press=/en/pressrelease/2009/renewable_energy/ere200911019.htm |title=ere200911019 |website=www.siemens.com}}{{dead-link|date=August 2024}}

| wind_hub_height = {{convert|80|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_rotor_diameter = {{convert|101|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_rated_speed = {{convert|14|-|90|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}

| wind_farm_type = Onshore

| ps_site_elevation = 500m

| wind_site_usage =

| ps_site_area = {{convert|200|ha|km2}}

| wind_offshore_depth =

| wind_offshore_distance =

| website = {{URL|https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/power-stations/wind/te-uku}}

| extra =

}}

Te Uku Wind Farm is a wind farm located at Te Uku near Raglan. It has a capacity of 64 MW{{cite web|url=https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/about-us/te-uku/|title=Project Te Uku|publisher=Meridian Energy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114111042/https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/about-us/te-uku/|archive-date=14 January 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title =Introduction and fact sheet|publisher=WEL Networks |url= http://www.wel.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145861987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005050948/http://www.wel.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145861987|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=dead|access-date = 2008-09-23}} using 28 wind turbines. Construction was completed in March 2011,{{Cite web |last=Meridian Energy (press release) |date=23 March 2011 |title=Gala Day Celebrates Completion Of Te Uku Wind Farm |url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/gala-day-celebrates-completion-te-uku-wind-farm/5/86126 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010024848/http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/gala-day-celebrates-completion-te-uku-wind-farm/5/86126 |archive-date=2011-10-10 |website=Voxy}} at a cost of $200 million.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10603435|title=Meridian Energy to build 64 megawatt Raglan wind farm|first=Grant|last=Bradley|date=16 October 2009|publisher=The New Zealand Herald }} The farm covers an area of approximately {{convert|200|ha|km2}}.{{cite web|title=WEL wind park resource consent application |publisher=WEL Networks Ltd |url= http://www.wel.co.nz/files/Wind%20Generation/2.WDC%20applicationProjectDescription.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005050902/http://www.wel.co.nz/files/Wind%20Generation/2.WDC%20applicationProjectDescription.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2011| access-date = 2008-09-21}} The wind farm is jointly owned by WEL Networks and Meridian Energy.{{cite web | title = Wind Park Update | publisher = WEL Networks Ltd | date = 2008-09-17 | url= http://www.wel.co.nz/files/Wind%20Generation/WindParkUpdateSept08finalcopy.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005051003/http://www.wel.co.nz/files/Wind%20Generation/WindParkUpdateSept08finalcopy.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2011|url-status=dead| access-date = 2008-09-23}}

Resource consent was granted in May 2008{{cite web | title = Wind farm bid a winner | publisher =Waikato Times |date= 2008-05-30 |via=Mercury Energy|url=http://www.mercury.co.nz/News/news_story.aspx?id=963 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106151801/http://www.mercury.co.nz/News/news_story.aspx?id=963|archive-date=6 January 2011|url-status=dead| access-date = 2008-09-21}} and appeals were resolved by November 2008. Construction of the wind farm began in 2010.{{cite press release|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1011/S00106/first-turbine-goes-up-at-te-uku-wind-farm.htm|title=First turbine goes up at Te Uku wind farm|date=3 November 2010|publisher=Meridian Energy|access-date=5 November 2010}} Hick Bros Civil and Spartan Construction won an award for outstanding technical and environmental planning.{{cite web|url=http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2011/hick-bros-spartan-pick-up-prize-for-building-te-uku-win/|title=Hick Bros & Spartan pick up prize for building Te Uku Wind Farm|work=Raglan 23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222104522/http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2011/hick-bros-spartan-pick-up-prize-for-building-te-uku-win/|archive-date=22 February 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=14 December 2014}} The wind farm was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key in February 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4641295/PM-blown-away-by-wind-farm|title=PM blown away by wind farm|date=10 February 2011 |first=Bruce |last=Holloway |publisher=Stuff|access-date=13 February 2011}} Te Uku was fully operational on 10 March 2011.{{cite press release |url=http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/about-us/news/media-releases/2011/construction-of-te-uku-wind-farm-complete/ |title = Construction of Te Uku wind farm complete |publisher = Meridian Energy |date = 31 March 2011 |access-date = 3 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405003524/http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/about-us/news/media-releases/2011/construction-of-te-uku-wind-farm-complete/ |archive-date=2011-04-05}}

Te Uku Windfarm is controlled from Wellington where Meridian has its control centre for running all of their New Zealand Hydro and Wind generation assets.

The windfarm is linked to the national grid at Te Kowhai substation by about {{convert|17|km|abbr=on}} of 33 kV lines on 159{{Cite web|title = Raglan Chronicle|url = http://issuu.com/raglanchronicle/docs/july29/6#download|website = Issuu|access-date = 2015-12-09|date = 30 July 2010}} steel poles built on concrete pile foundations{{Cite web|title = Wind Farm Electricity Generation: Edison|url = http://www.edison.co.nz/wind/id/152|website = www.edison.co.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208112659/http://www.edison.co.nz/wind/id/152|archive-date=8 February 2013|url-status=dead|access-date = 2015-12-09}} and an underground cable from just west of Waitetuna Valley Rd to Cogswell Rd,{{Cite web|title = WEL Networks western upgrade|url = http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2010/wel-networks-western-upgrade/|work=Raglan 23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213145113/http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2010/wel-networks-western-upgrade/|archive-date=13 February 2013|url-status=dead|access-date = 2015-12-09}} a total of about {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title = John key opens Te Uku Wind Farm|url = http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2011/john-key-opens-te-uku-wind-farm/|work=Raglan 23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222131604/http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2011/john-key-opens-te-uku-wind-farm/|archive-date=22 February 2013|url-status=dead|access-date = 2015-12-09}}{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/business/5472819/Raglan-wind-farm-wins-top-award| title=Raglan wind farm wins top award| date= 19 August 2011| work=Waikato Times

|access-date=19 August 2011}}{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/293249| title=Wel's windfarm critic has plenty of hits at hearing| date= 29 February 2008| work=Waikato Times | access-date=19 August 2011}}

Construction

Each 130.5 m. high, 318 tonne, turbine took 2 or 3 days to build using 4 cranes, the largest a 600 tonne KR Wind/NZ Crane Group Alliance crane. Towers were formed in 3 sections (made in Korea), and topped by Siemens components (as at Makara) - a 3.5 m circumference, 81 tonne nacelle, hub and 3 turbine blades. Barge transport was considered, but rejected in favour of road transporters running from September 2010 to January 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2010/first-turbine-goes-up-at-te-uku-wind-farm/|title=First Turbine Goes Up At Te Uku Wind Farm|work=Raglan 23|access-date=14 December 2014}}

File:A 10.9 tonne 49m long Siemens turbine blade for Te Uku windfarm waits at the summit of SH23 before heading towards Raglan.jpg|A 10.9 tonne 49m long Siemens turbine blade waits at the summit of SH23 for its scheduled time to close the road in November 2010.

File:A 54 tonne 27m long Korean built segment of a Te Uku windfarm tower descends SH23 towards Raglan.jpg|A 54 tonne 27m long Korean built tower segment descends SH23 on its journey from Ports of Auckland in November 2010.

File:Pipiwharauroa Way approaching the Pakihi Stream crossing..JPG|The part-formed cutting through Okete Volcanics rock has been widened twice since 2003.

File:Beyond Pipiwharauroa Way on the Vandy Rd side of the summit the part formed Plateau Rd drops through a rock cutting about 300 metres long, 3 metres wide and up to 3 metres deep..JPG|On the Vandy Rd side of the summit the part-formed Plateau Rd drops through a rock cutting about 300 metres long, 3 metres wide and up to 3 metres deep. In the 1940s it is said a car managed to follow this road, though it is now very difficult to get a mountain bike along it.

Pipiwharauroa Way

One of the mitigation measures was this walking and cycling track. The track climbs from a car park on Kawhia Rd, near Bridal Veil, runs about 6 km and climbs 280m to the windfarm on Wharauroa Plateau. Over 2 km of less interesting walking can be saved if the walk is started from the gate at the end of the driveable part of Plateau Rd. From this point Lake Disappear can be seen to the south after wet weather. The track peters out into the partly formed paper road (see the dashed line on the [http://www.nztopomaps.com/30369/Wharauroa-Plateau/Waikato 1:50,000 map] just north of the Pakihi Stream). It follows an ancient Maori track which was often used by warriors on raids between Waikato and Kawhia.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UssYAAAACAAJ |title=Raglan County Hills and Sea: A Centennial History 1876-1976 |author1=C. W. Vennell |author2=Susan Williams |publisher=Wilson & Horton |date=1976 |page=76 |isbn=9780868640020 |access-date=2012-12-18}}

The road access to the windfarm largely followed the paper road, which was started around 1900 (a local historian, Bob Vernon, wrote that a store ledger started at Te Mata in 1896 includes at least 11 workers on the roadTe Mata - Te Hutewai the Early Days R. T. VERNON 1972 A. O. RICE LIMITED) and seemingly abandoned a few years later, though Bob Vernon also wrote, "about 1919 the Public Works Department cut a six-foot track through solid bush, from the south-eastern end of the plateau [where it joins this paper road] to the head of the Makomako valley".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiGwGwAACAAJ |title=Te Mata, Aotea|access-date=14 December 2014|last1=Vernon|first1=Robert Thomas|year=1973}}

In 2013 there was controversy between a local farmer and Waikato District Council about whether Pipiwharauroa Way could be closed for the lambing season.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/raglanchronicle/docs/aug-22-2013#download|title=ISSUU - Raglan Chronicle by Raglan Chronicle|author=Raglan Chronicle|work=Issuu|access-date=14 December 2014}}

Microwave tower

File:Te Uku microwave tower.jpgFrom the 1970s a microwave tower has been on the crest of the hill overlooking Te Uku.{{Cite web |date=1981 |title=NZMS260 map Sheet: Q15-R15 Kawhia |url=http://www.mapspast.org.nz/?zoom=13&x=1772047&y=5806787&layerid=NZMS1/260%201989 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.mapspast.org.nz}} It is now also part of a smart metering network.[http://www.4rf.com/assets/documents/Aprisa%20XE%20Case%20Study%20-%20WEL%20Networks%20English.pdf Aprisa XE and Aprisa SR empower robust, reliable, digital multi-service network] There is also a VHF repeater near the tower.{{cite web |url=http://www.raglan23.co.nz/2014/te-uku-part-of-new-amateur-radio-network/ |title=Te-Uku part of new amateur radio network |date=17 December 2014 |work=Raglan 23}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20081014040754/http://www.wel.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145841551 Te Uku Wind Farm] at WEL Networks - refers to 25 km transmission line to link with grid
[http://www.energy.siemens.com/br/pool/hq/power-generation/wind-power/SWT-2%203-101_brochure_EN_022012.pdf Siemens turbine brochure]
[http://www.raglan23.co.nz/about-raglan/pipiwharauroa-walking-and-biking-trail/ Pipiwharauroa Way on Raglan23 website]
The towers are made of steel, not concrete. And are only 80 metres tall, with 49m blades, making a total of 130m.{{Cite web|title = Te Uku Wind Farm|url = http://www.windenergy.org.nz/te-uku-wind-farm|website = www.windenergy.org.nz|access-date = 2015-12-09}}
[http://www.tranzcarr.co.nz/cmpages/windfarm.html Tranzcarr Heavy Haulage with photos of the transport of the towers from Auckland]
[http://gorgeouswithattitude.blogspot.com/2010/09/1st-blade-wends-way-to-wind-farm.html?m=1 Photos of the turbines on the roads near Whatawhata]

Category:Buildings and structures in Waikato

Category:Raglan, New Zealand

Category:Wind farms in New Zealand