Project West Wind facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Wind Wind Farm |
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Mākara, west of Wellington City |
| Coordinates | 41°16′35″S 174°39′37″E / 41.27639°S 174.66028°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | September 2007 |
| Commission date | April 2009 |
| Construction cost | $440 million |
| Owner(s) | Meridian |
The West Wind farm is a large wind farm located near Mākara, west of Wellington, New Zealand. It uses the power of the wind to create electricity for homes and businesses.
This wind farm was the first of its kind for Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. It can produce enough power for many thousands of homes.
Building the West Wind Farm
Work on the West Wind farm started in September 2007. It was finished by late 2009. The builders had permission to install up to 66 wind turbines. However, they ended up putting in 62 turbines instead.
The wind farm is owned and operated by a company called Meridian Energy.
Opening Day
The West Wind farm officially opened in April 2009. The Prime Minister at the time, John Key, helped turn on the first 15 turbines. A Prime Minister is the leader of the government in a country.
The electricity made by the turbines is sent into New Zealand's main power lines. This allows the power to travel to different parts of the country.
West Wind's Achievements
In 2012, the West Wind farm won an important award. It was recognized in the Energy and Resources category at the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards. This shows how well it was designed and built.
In September 2019, Meridian Energy celebrated a big milestone. The wind farm had been making electricity for 10 years! They celebrated with the local community in Mākara and Wellington.
