Meridian Annual Report - Meridian Energy

8
Our Operations cont
Under
Construction
Project West Wind
West Wind is a wind farm currently under
construction at Makara, near Wellington.
It will have 62 turbines capable of generating
142.6MW. Construction started in September
2007 with first power expected in late 2008
or early 2009.
Offices
Wellington Head Office
Wellington Meridian staff operate out of
New Zealand’s first five-star Green Star rated
building located on Wellington’s waterfront.
Designed to use 60% less energy and 70%
less water than comparable office buildings,
it is the first New Zealand office building
designed and constructed using Ecologically
Sustainable Development principles.
Twizel Office
Sited on land that was once part of the
Ruataniwha Station, Twizel was constructed
as the base for the Upper Waitaki Power
Development. The Twizel Office is located
a short distance from the Twizel township
centre.
Christchurch Office
Meridian’s Christchurch office is located at
322 Manchester Street. The Meridian call
centre, credit control, and billing systems
staff operate from this location.
Proposed
Developments
Project Hayes
Project Hayes is a proposed wind farm
on the Lammermoor Range northwest of
Dunedin. The proposed farm would have
up to 176 turbines generating up to 630MW.
It is named after Central Otago engineer
and inventor Ernest Hayes, one of the first
New Zealanders to harness wind power for
commercial use. A resource consent decision
is pending.
Project Gumfields
Project Gumfields is a proposed wind farm
development near Ahipara in Northland.
A Department of Conservation concession
is currently being sought for the project.
North Bank Tunnel Concept
A proposal to generate electricity by taking
water from Lake Waitaki through a tunnel
and power station and discharging it back
into the Waitaki River about 34 kilometres
downstream. The concept would have a
generation capacity of 200-280MW. The
concept is in the hearing stage of water-only
resource consents.
Mokihinui
We are investigating the potential for a hydro
development with potential for up to 60MW
of generation on the Mohikinui River in
northern Westland.
Mohaka
This is a hydro development investigation on
the lower Mohaka River with potential for up
to 44MW of generation in the eastern North
Island, south of Wairoa.
Hunter Downs
Hunter Downs is a proposed irrigation
scheme being developed as a joint initiative
between Meridian and the South Canterbury
Irrigation Trust (SCIT). Consents to take and
use Waitaki River water sufficient to irrigate
40,000 ha have been applied for. Meridian
and SCIT propose to develop the irrigation
scheme on a build, own and operate basis.
Project Central Wind
Central Wind is a proposed wind farm
located across five privately-owned rural
properties in the central North Island.
The site is located between Waiouru and
Taihape, with the smaller settlement of
Moawhango lying to the east. Project
Central Wind would have 52 turbines with
an estimated combined generating capacity
of about 120-130MW, enough to power up to
50,000 average homes.
Project Mill Creek
Mill Creek is a 31-turbine wind farm proposal
for the Ohariu Valley, north-west of
Wellington. The project was conceived more
than 10 years ago when a group of farmers
in the area were looking for ways to keep
their farms viable in the longer term. Wind
farming appealed to them as it was a way of
preserving the lifestyle and rural character
of the area. Mill Creek will generate enough
renewable energy to power the equivalent of
35,000 average homes.