Turitea Wind Farm

The wind farm was proposed for both land owned by the Palmerston North City Council and surrounding private farm land. In 2005, and following a competitive bid process, the Council selected Mercury (then called Mighty River Power) to develop the project.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/4650298/Wind-farm-plan-derailed-map|title=Wind farm plan derailed|first=Grant|last=Miller|publisher=Manawatu Standard|date=12 February 2011}}

File:Turitea_Wind_Farm_turbines_in_storage_02.jpg

Construction of the Northern stage, consisting of 33 turbines, began in October 2019.{{cite web| url= https://i.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/116990281/foundations-started-to-harness-manawat-winds| title=Foundations started to harness Manawatū winds |first=Janine |last=Rankin |work=Manawatu Standard| date=29 October 2019| accessdate=28 June 2020}} Commissioning was initially expected in early 2021,{{cite web| url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111575248/construction-of-60-wind-turbines-at-turitea-wind-farm-near-palmerston-north-confirmed| title=Construction of 33 wind turbines at Turitea wind farm near Palmerston North confirmed| first=Janine |last=Rankin| work=Stuff| date=27 March 2019| accessdate=5 June 2019}} however this was revised after challenges with the overland transport of turbine blades{{cite web| url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/122651528/new-route-needed-to-get-giant-turbine-blades-to-wind-farm| title=New route needed to get giant turbine blades to wind farm| first=Janine| last=Rankin| work=Stuff| date=4 September 2020| accessdate=8 April 2021}} and commissioning was pushed back to the end of 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/126788079/mercury-marks-two-years-since-work-began-at-the-turitea-wind-farm |title=Mercury marks two years since work began at the Turitea wind farm| first=Janine| last=Rankin| publisher=Stuff |date=26 October 2021 |access-date=31 December 2021}}{{cite web| url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/05/first-stage-of-mercury-s-turitea-wind-farm-to-be-switched-on-in-october-after-year-long-delay.html| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210508073437/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/05/first-stage-of-mercury-s-turitea-wind-farm-to-be-switched-on-in-october-after-year-long-delay.html| url-status= dead| archive-date= May 8, 2021| title=First stage of Mercury's Turitea Wind Farm to be switched on in October after year-long delay| first=Alexa| last=Cook| work=Newshub| date=8 May 2021| accessdate=9 June 2021}} Construction of the Southern stage of 27 turbines followed.{{cite web| url= https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/117342459/second-stage-of-new-zealands-biggest-wind-farm-to-go-ahead| title=Second stage of New Zealand's biggest wind farm to go ahead| first=Janine| last=Rankin| work=Stuff| date=12 November 2019| accessdate=28 June 2020}}

Work on the wind farm was halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.{{cite web| url= https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/120550136/mercury-energy-stops-work-on-its-turitea-wind-farm-in-coronavirus-lockdown| title=Construction of 33 wind turbines at Turitea wind farm near Palmerston North confirmed| first=Melanie| last=Carroll| work=Stuff| date=25 March 2020| accessdate=28 June 2020}} In December 2020, a ship fire at the Port of Napier destroyed 12 nacelles and 11 hubs destined for the Southern stage.{{cite web| url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/124208195/plans-back-on-track-to-deliver-turbine-blades-to-turitea-wind-farm| title=Plans back on track to deliver turbine blades to Turitea Wind Farm| first=Janine | last=Rankin| work=Stuff| date=11 February 2021| accessdate=8 April 2021}}

The wind-farm generated its first electricity on 30 July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/125927755/turiteas-first-turbine-catches-a-puff-of-wind-to-power-up |title=Turitea's first turbine catches a puff of wind to power up| first=Janine |last=Rankin |publisher=Manawatu Standard |date=2 August 2021 |access-date=2 August 2021}} The final turbine of the northern stage was installed in October 2021,{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/126758708/final-turbine-rises-in-turitea-wind-farms-northern-stage |title=Final turbine rises in Turitea wind farm's northern stage |author=Janine Rankin |publisher=Stuff |date=22 October 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021}} when 23 turbines were in operation. The Northern stage was fully operational by December 2021.{{cite web |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/128582018/huge-road-improvements-needed-to-access-turitea-wind-farm |title=Huge improvements needed to access Turitea wind farm| first=Janine |last=Rankin |publisher=Manawatu Standard |date=9 May 2022 |access-date=17 December 2022}}

The wind farm was formally opened by Minister of Energy Megan Woods in May 2023, and is expected to be fully operational by the end of June.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/131946699/turitea-wind-farm-emerges-from-the-mist |title=Turitea wind farm emerges from the mist |publisher=Stuff |author=Janine Rankin |date=4 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023}}

In January 2005 after receiving multiple approaches from New Zealand electricity generators, the Palmerston North City Council sought a commercial partner for the construction of a wind farm in the Turitea Reserve.{{cite news |title=Council wants wind farm |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=15 January 2005 |via=EBSCOHost}} In August 2005 it signed a deal with Mighty River Power for development of the wind farm.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/300m-wind-farm-deal-signed/VFAQ6BXKEQPTNSXNOD3JEEEJRY/ |title=$300m wind farm deal signed |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=29 August 2005 |access-date=29 September 2021}} The deal included plans for an eco-park funded by the city from wind-farm revenues,{{cite news |title=New eco park plan in the wings |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=1 September 2005 |via=EBSCOHost}} and for "milestone payments" from Mighty River to the council at various stages of the consent process.{{cite news |title=Council quiet on wind farm windfall |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=11 July 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}}

The council began consultation on changes to the reserve's management plan in August 2006.{{cite news |title=Visitors are blown away by trip to wind farm site |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=14 August 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}}{{cite news |title=Power in reserve |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=31 August 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}} The proposal was opposed by Forest and Bird{{cite news |title=Forest & Bird queries wind farm consultation |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=9 August 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}} and the Department of Conservation{{cite news |title=Wrangle on law looming |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=5 September 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}} as damaging the integrity of the reserve and potentially contravening the Reserves Act 1977. In October 2006 the Palmerston North City Council changed the purpose of the reserve to include renewable electricity generation.{{cite news |title=Wind farm gets council thumbs up |author=Helen Harvey |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=31 October 2006 |via=EBSCOHost}} A subsequent court challenge to the decision was unsuccessful.{{cite court |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/cases/NZHC/2007/705.html |litigants=Friends of the Turitea Reserve Society Incorporated v Palmerston North City Council |reporter=NZHC |vol=(2007) 2 |opinion=661 |date=25 July 2007 |court=High Court of New Zealand |access-date=29 September 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/29381/Green-light-for-Turitea-wind-farm |title=Green light for Turitea wind farm |author=Grant Miller |publisher =Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=27 July 2007 |access-date=29 September 2021}}{{cite news |title=Turitea turbine opponents lose court appeal |author=Britton Broun |work=Dominion-Post |page=A5 |date=27 July 2007 |via=EBSCOHost}}

Mighty River Power applied for resource consents for 131 turbines in 2008,{{cite news |title=Wind farm resource applications lodged |author=Katie Chapman |work=Manawatu Standard |page=1 |date=16 August 2008 |via=EBSCOHost}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/content/2249/FINAL%20Revised%20Layout%20AEE%20Feb%202010.pdf|title=Turitea Wind Farm AEE|date=February 2010|publisher=Mighty River Power|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724193033/http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/content/2249/FINAL%20Revised%20Layout%20AEE%20Feb%202010.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-24|df=}} and later applied to the Environment Minister for the project to be called in under the Resource Management Act. The call in process can result in faster processing of major projects, but in this case it coincided with the 2008 election and change of government. The Palmerston North City Council decided to continue with processing of the application, despite Mighty River Power's application for call-in.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4760864a6003.html |publisher=Manawatu Standard|date=14 Nov 2008|title=Turbine consent process proceeds}}

In December 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, directed that the project be called in{{cite web|url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-turitea/ministers-direction.html|title=Ministerial direction for call in|publisher=Ministry for the Environment|date=18 December 2008}} and the Board of Inquiry invited submissions and commenced sitting in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/call-in-turitea/|title=Mighty River Power's proposal for a wind farm at Turitea|publisher=Ministry for the Environment}} The hearing adjourned for a period in 2009, to enable Mighty River Power to redesign the proposal, reducing it to 104 turbines. In 2010, the board resumed the hearing, with a draft decision in February 2011 permitting 61 turbines.

In 2011, the board issued its final decision, approving a wind farm of 60 turbines, up to 3 MW each. In October 2011, Mighty River Power stated in its annual report that the Turitea Wind Farm was not likely to be economically viable before 2015.{{cite web| url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/5753104/Wind-farm-on-hold-till-electricity-demand-flurries| title=Wind farm on hold| first=Janine| last=Rankin| work=Manawatu Standard| date=8 October 2011| accessdate=10 October 2011}}

File:Turitea-site-map-2023-investor-day-presentation.png

The northern stage employs 33 Vestas V112-3.6 MW turbines, measuring {{Convert|69|m|abbr=on}} from base to hub with a rotor diameter of {{Convert|112|m|abbr=on}}. The southern stage employs 27 Vestas V112-3.8 MW turbines.{{cite web|date=|title=Turitea Wind Farm, Palmerston North|url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/turitea-wind-farm-palmerston-north/|publisher=Power Technology|accessdate=28 June 2020}}

A {{Convert|12|km|abbr=on}}-long double circuit 220 kV transmission line connects the wind farm to Transpower's national grid at its Linton substation. The transmission line uses 20 monopoles and 18 lattice towers, with 8 structures installed by helicopter.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Investor Day 2023 by Mercury - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/mercurynz/docs/investor_day_presentation_2023 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=issuu.com |language=en}} The line is fed by two substations, one for each cluster of wind turbines, Plantation substation in the north, and Browns Flat substation in the south. The line has been built to allow for future wind projects in the area like the Puketoi wind farm as existing transmission capacity east of the Tararua Ranges is limited.

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Category:Wind farms in New Zealand

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