The New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) welcomes Mercury NZ’s announcement that it has reached FID (Financial Investment Decision) to advance the proposed Puke Kapo Hau wind farm west of Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand.
NZWEA Chief Executive Kevin Hart said the decision is yet another strong signal that wind energy is bankable and is actively supporting Aotearoa NZ’s energy security and future demand growth.
Puke Kapo Hau is the Stage 2 expansion of the Mahinerangi Stage 1 Wind Farm. Combined with Stage 1, the project is expected to be the largest wind farm in New Zealand. The Puke Kapo Hau name was gifted by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and means ‘the hill that catches the wind’.
The 40-turbine wind farm will add 192MW of capacity to the grid and generate approximately 533 GWh of energy annually. Puke Kapo Hau demonstrates these benefits, with a project cost of NZ$2.6m/MW, which is a very competitive price when compared to other projects recently being advanced.
Mercury received fast-track consent approval in July this year, which is the first Mercury project to receive approval through the fast-track process. Key contracting arrangements secured with experienced wind farm Balance of Plant (BoP) contractors Higgins, Electronet, and Nordex.
Nordex was selected as the turbine supplier using 40 x N133 4.8MW units with a tip height of 156m and a hub height of 90m. The supply and support agreement has a 30-year duration. This is Nordex’s first turbine order for New Zealand, which brings added supply chain competition and product diversity to the New Zealand market.
Construction is expected to start before the end of 2026, once final grid connection studies are complete.
First generation is expected by Q4 FY28, with full generation expected by Q2 FY29.
