Harapaki Wind Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harapaki Bay Wind Farm |
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|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Hawkes Bay |
| Coordinates | 39°11′2″S 176°41′35″E / 39.18389°S 176.69306°E |
| Status | Consented |
| Owner(s) | Meridian Energy Limited |
The Harapaki Wind Farm is a large wind power project planned for the Hawkes Bay area in New Zealand. This wind farm will use wind turbines to create electricity. It is designed to produce enough power for many homes.
This project is still being planned and built. Once finished, it will be an important source of clean energy for New Zealand. It will help the country use more renewable power.
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Building a Wind Farm
The idea for a wind farm in the Maungaharuru Range started a long time ago. In 2005, two different companies received permission to build wind farms there. One company was Hawkes Bay Wind Farm Ltd, and the other was Unison Networks Limited.
Some people were not happy about the plans. They made appeals against the wind farms. However, the courts decided in favor of the wind farms. This happened in October 2006 and again in May 2007.
Unison Networks Limited also wanted to add more wind turbines. This was for a second part of their project called Te Waka/Titiokura Wind Farm. But the court did not approve this extra stage.
Who Owns the Project?
Later, a company called Meridian Energy bought both of the original wind farm permissions. They bought them in 2010 and 2011. Meridian Energy then combined the two projects into one big site.
The permissions for this project were extended until 2023. This meant Meridian Energy had more time to plan and build. In August 2019, Meridian Energy started looking for companies to help build the wind farm.
When Will it Be Built?
Construction was first expected to start in 2020. However, there was a delay. This was because of possible changes at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. The smelter uses a lot of electricity.
In February 2021, Meridian Energy announced new plans. They said that building the wind farm would begin later that year. They expect the construction to take about three years to complete.
Where is Harapaki Wind Farm?
The Harapaki Wind Farm will be built on the Maungaharuru Range. This area is close to the Titiokura Summit. It is about 34 kilometers (21 miles) north-west of Napier Airport. The Maungaharuru Range is quite high, reaching about 1300 meters (4,265 feet) above sea level.
