View source for Waipipi Wind Farm

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Waipipi Wind Farm
| image = Four_turbines_of_the_Waipipi_Wind_Farm.jpg
| country =
| location = near [[Waverley, Taranaki|Waverley, New Zealand]]
| image_caption = Waipipi Wind Farm turbines showing the curved blades
| coordinates = {{coord|39|47|S|174|33|E|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| cost = NZ$227 million<ref name=StuffOpen/>
| owner = [[Mercury Energy|Mercury NZ Ltd]]
| operator =
| employees =
| status = Operational
| wind_farm_type = Onshore
| wind_site_elevation =
| wind_site_usage =
| ps_site_area = 700 Ha
| wind_offshore_depth =
| wind_offshore_distance =
| wind_hub_height = {{convert|95|m|abbr=on}}
| wind_rotor_diameter = {{convert|130|m|abbr=on}}
| wind_rated_speed =
| ps_units_operational = 31
| ps_units_manu_model = Siemens Gamesa 4.3MW
| ps_units_planned =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 133&nbsp;MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| ps_annual_generation = 455&nbsp;GWh
| construction_began = 2019
| commissioned = 2021
| decommissioned =
}}
The '''Waipipi Wind Farm''' is a wind powered electricity generation project in [[New Zealand]] owned and operated by [[Mercury Energy|Mercury NZ Ltd]]. This site is located between [[Patea]] and [[Waverley, Taranaki|Waverley]] in South Taranaki.  The wind farm consists of 31 wind turbines over 980 hectares, generating up to 133&nbsp;MW at a cost of approximately $277 million.<ref name="Tilt">{{cite web| url=https://www.tiltrenewables.com/assets-and-projects/waipipi-wind-farm/| title=Waipipi Wind Farm| publisher=Tilt Renewables| accessdate=23 May 2020}}</ref> The 4.3&nbsp;MW machines are the largest wind turbines installed in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/122307849/new-zealands-largest-ever-wind-turbines-appear-in-taranaki| title=New Zealand's largest ever wind turbines appear in Taranaki| first=Robin| last=Martin| date=31 July 2020| publisher=Taranaki Daily News}}</ref>
==History==
The Waverley wind farm project was initially proposed in 2007 by Allco Wind Energy but development ceased in 2009 when Allco was put into receivership.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/7643774/Waverleys-fortune-blows-in-wind| title=Waverley's fortune blows in wind| first=John| last=Anthony| date=10 September 2012| publisher=Taranaki Daily News}}</ref>
The project was acquired by [[Trustpower]] in 2010<ref name="rejuvenated">{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79779524/Waverley-wind-farm-project-rejuvenated| title=Waverley wind farm project rejuvenated| first=Catherine| last=Groenestein| date=10 May 2016| publisher=stuff.co.nz}}</ref> and further developed in 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/7891207/300m-wind-farm-plan-revealed| title=$300m wind farm plan revealed| publisher=Taranaki Daily News| date=1 November 2012| first=Laird| last=Harper}}</ref> The application for resource consents was lodged with [[South Taranaki District Council]] and the [[Taranaki Regional Council]] in 2016.<ref name="rejuvenated" /> It was approved in July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/94569173/waverley-wind-farm-application-gets-goahead |title=Waverley wind farm application gets go-ahead |publisher=Stuff |date=10 July 2017 |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref> The final investment decision to proceed with the project was taken in August 2019.<ref name="NZX">{{cite web| url=https://www.nzx.com/announcements/340043| title=Investment decision for Waipipi Wind Farm| date=28 August 2019| publisher=NZX}}</ref>
Site work started with a sod-turning ceremony on 1 November 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.higgins.co.nz/about-us/our-projects/waipipi-wind-farm| title=Waipipi Wind Farm| publisher=Higgins Group}}</ref> The turbine components were shipped from Denmark and China, arriving at [[Port Taranaki]] in May 2020.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300018519/waverley-wind-farm-shipments-signal-positive-opportunities-for-recovery| title=Waverley wind farm shipments signal positive opportunities for recovery| first=Mike| last=Watson| date=22 May 2020| publisher=Stuff}}</ref> The components were then transported by road to Waipipi. On 2 June 2020, the truck carrying the first turbine blade lost control and tipped over at [[Ōkato]]; the driver was uninjured and the blade suffered only minor damage.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=Truck carrying massive wind turbine blade topples over on SH45|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/121692399/truck-carrying-massive-wind-turbine-blade-topples-over-on-sh45|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-11-17|title=Wind power blows in to South Taranaki|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/123424223/wind-power-blows-in-to-south-taranaki|access-date=2021-01-20|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref>
The first four turbines were commissioned and started contributing power to the national grid on 16 November 2020.<ref name=":0" /> All turbines were commissioned by early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-15|title=Tilt completes Waipipi wind farm, breaks five-year drought for New Zealand|url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/tilt-completes-waipipi-wind-farm-breaks-five-year-drought-for-new-zealand/|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Renew Economy|language=en}}</ref> The windfarm was officially opened in June 2021.<ref name=StuffOpen>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/300339319/south-taranaki-wind-farm-hailed-a-success |title=South Taranaki wind farm hailed a success |author=Catherine Groenestein |publisher=Taranaki Daily News |date=23 June 2021 |access-date=16 July 2021}}</ref>
==Equipment==
The wind farm uses 31 [[Siemens Gamesa]] turbines, each with a 130&nbsp;m rotor diameter and rated at 4.3&nbsp;MW.<ref name="NZX" />
An {{Convert|11|km||0|abbr=on}} transmission line connects the wind farm to the national grid at [[Transpower New Zealand|Transpower]]'s Waverley substation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Taranaki Waipipi Wind Farm parts arrive from China|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/south-taranaki-waipipi-wind-farm-parts-arrive-from-china/YZGHOJ3BWVA44CW6CTEYK7FBMA/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=NZ Herald|language=en-NZ}}</ref>
==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|New Zealand|Weather|Renewable energy}}}}
*[[Wind power in New Zealand]]
*[[Electricity sector in New Zealand]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{cite web| title=Waipipi Wind Farm| url=https://www.tiltrenewables.com/assets-and-projects/waipipi-wind-farm/| publisher=Tilt Renewables| accessdate=23 May 2020}}
{{South Taranaki District}}
[[Category:Wind farms in New Zealand]]
[[Category:South Taranaki District]]