KEY POINTS:
NZ Windfarms plans to seek resource consent to extend its Te Rere Hau wind farm near Palmerston North, hoping to add up to 37 more turbines.
The 48.5 megawatt site in the Tararua Ranges is consented for 97 turbines. The company would discuss the proposed extension with landowners, community groups and the public before making formal resource consent applications, NZ Windfarms chief executive Chris Freear said.
"The Te Rere Hau site is meeting expectations. It's located on one of the windiest ridges in New Zealand, which is one of the premier wind farming locations in the world," he said.
Te Rere Hau, NZ Windfarms' first wind farm, is a joint venture with global wind energy investors Babcock & Brown and NP Power and uses New Zealand-made Windflow 500 turbines.
The first stage has been operating since September 2006 and supplies electricity to the local lines network.
- NZPA
