Mahinerangi Wind Farm

The Mahinerangi Wind Farm is located on 1723 ha of farmland close to Lake Mahinerangi, which feeds TrustPower’s existing four-station Waipori Hydro Scheme. Construction of stage one of the wind farm was completed in April 2011 and involved the installation of twelve 3 MW turbines.

TrustPower has Resource Consents for a 200MW wind farm at the Mahinerangi site, which were granted by the Otago Regional and Clutha District Councils. The Resource Consents allow for a maximum of 100 turbines at a maximum height of 145-metres. For information on the Resource Consent for the Mahinerangi Wind Farm click here.

In May 2010 TrustPower’s board of directors approved the first stage of development at the site. Stage One of the Mahinerangi Wind Farm is 36 MW development, which involves the installation of twelve 3MW Vestas V90 wind turbines. Construction of stage one started in September 2010 and was completed and fully commissioned by April 2011.

The output of this stage will feed directly into an existing line, used by the Waipori hydro scheme, which is connected to Dunedin’s Halfway Bush substation, and then into the Dunedin local network. The long term expected annual output from stage one of the wind farm is forecast to be 105 GWh per annum, which is enough power to supply approximately 13,000 Dunedin homes.

Due to its location adjacent to the lake supplying the existing Waipori Hydro Scheme, the Mahinerangi Wind Farm will allow TrustPower to make the best of both wind and hydro resources. When the wind is blowing TrustPower will be able to conserve water for use when the wind is not blowing. When hydro storage and wind conditions are both plentiful the scheme will provide excellent peaking capacity.

To download an Information Sheet about Stage One of the Mahinerangi Wind Farm click on the link below.

Please click on the headings below for more information:

Mahinerangi Wind Farm – Consultation Group

Mahinerangi Wind Farm – Detailed Overview

Mahinerangi Wind Farm – Resource Consent