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- Release Date: 14/05/14 10:55
- Summary: GENERAL: MELCA: Meridian announces Mill Creek first power
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MEL
14/05/2014 08:55
GENERAL
REL: 0855 HRS Meridian Energy Limited
GENERAL: MELCA: Meridian announces Mill Creek first power
14 May, 2014
Wellington's second wind farm goes 'live' today when Prime Minister John Key
formally switches on turbines at Meridian Energy's Mill Creek.
Meridian Chief Executive Mark Binns says it's a very proud day for the
company and the Ohariu Valley landowners who made the 26 turbine wind farm
happen.
"This first power celebration recognises the efforts of our Mill Creek team,
the landowners who initially promoted the idea to farm wind on this site and
the contractors who are delivering this project. We also wish to thank the
community who has worked with us through the construction period," he says.
"This wind farm is Meridian's tenth wind farm that it has developed or
purchased and we expect it to be one of the most productive in the world,"
Mark Binns says.
"Wind patterns at Mill Creek mean that we expect we will get twice the energy
out of the turbines compared to that of the average global wind farm."
So far six turbines have been installed and one is now producing electricity.
With a capacity of 59.8MW, Mill Creek will increase the amount of electricity
produced by wind from approximately 10 to 12 percent of the company's total
annual production.
Mill Creek and the neighbouring West Wind wind farm will power roughly the
equivalent of all the homes in Wellington and most of Lower Hutt.
The small but significant project will integrate straight into the local
Wellington Electricity network.
"Mill Creek is strategically significant for Meridian. It is an asset that
increases our North Island generation, which is important to us over the long
term. It further supports Meridian to balance and diversify its renewable
energy portfolio, reducing our reliance on hydro and making a positive
contribution in drier years when we need to conserve water in our lakes."
Mark Binns says the project team had to overcome some logistical challenges
during construction of the wind farm, such as the transportation of large
Siemens turbine components, including 41-metre turbine blades from
Wellington's Centreport during the night.
"There were some tricky corners and a few motorway bridges to negotiate under
and over. But before all this could happen, they first had to build an access
road through Spicer Forest and
construct 2.5km of external roading on Ohariu Valley and Boom Rock roads as
well as 18 km of roading on the wind farm site. Once the turbine foundations
were in place, 36 km of cable connecting the turbine was laid, says Mark
Binns."
Construction of Mill Creek commenced in August 2012. All 26 turbines are
expected to be operating by late August 2014.
For media queries, please contact:
Michelle Brooker
Media Manager
021 225 9624
For Investor Relations queries, please contact:
Owen Hackston
Investor Relations Manager
021 246 4772
End CA:00250416 For:MEL Type:GENERAL Time:2014-05-14 08:55:43
