Hau Nui Wind Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hau Nui Wind Farm |
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The seven stage 1 turbines from Range Road
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | south-east of Martinborough, Wellington region |
| Coordinates | 41°21′42″S 175°29′2″E / 41.36167°S 175.48389°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1996, 2004 |
| Owner(s) | Genesis Energy |
The Hau Nui Wind Farm is a special place where wind is turned into electricity! It's located about 21 kilometers south-east of Martinborough in New Zealand. This wind farm has 15 giant wind turbines. Its name, Hau Nui, means "big wind" in the Māori language. It was actually the very first wind farm ever built in New Zealand! It was built in two main parts and can make 8.65 megawatts of power.
Where the Wind Farm Is Located
The Hau Nui Wind Farm sits on a high ridge. This ridge is next to White Rock Road, which is the main road between Martinborough and White Rock.
The wind farm was built in two stages:
- Stage 1 is on Range Road. It's close to where Range Road meets White Rock Road.
- Stage 2 is about one kilometer south of Stage 1, also on Range Road.
This spot is great for a wind farm because the wind blows very strongly here. The average wind speed is between 9.2 and 9.5 meters per second.
How the Turbines Work
The Hau Nui Wind Farm uses a total of fifteen wind turbines. They are all Enercon E-40 models.
- The seven turbines from Stage 1 are older models. Each one can make 550 kilowatts of electricity.
- The eight turbines from Stage 2 are newer versions. Each of these can make 600 kilowatts of electricity.
All the turbines are very tall. The center of the blades (called the hub) is 46 meters high. The blades themselves create a circle 40 meters wide when they spin.
How Electricity Gets Around
The electricity made at Hau Nui is sent into the local power lines. This is how it reaches homes and businesses.
Here's how it works:
- Each turbine first makes electricity at 400 volts.
- Then, special machines called transformers step up the voltage.
- For Stage 1 turbines, the electricity is changed to 11,000 volts.
- For Stage 2 turbines, it's changed to 33,000 volts.
The 33,000-volt lines from Stage 2 carry electricity 24 kilometers to supply the town of Martinborough. The 11,000-volt lines from Stage 1 supply the local area nearby. Sometimes, Stage 1 can also connect to the 33,000-volt lines going to Martinborough.
When lots of people need electricity (this is called "peak demand"), the power from Hau Nui helps supply Martinborough and the eastern part of the South Wairarapa district. When fewer people need electricity ("off-peak"), Hau Nui can power the entire South Wairarapa district. This happens because the 33,000-volt lines connect Martinborough with other towns like Featherston, Greytown, and Pirinoa. If there's extra electricity, it can even be sent to the national power grid!
