The Construction Process

Stage 1 construction started in January 2006.  Stage 1 of the Te Rere Hau wind farm consisted of five NZ made Windflow 500 turbines (2.5 MW capacity) which operated via a temporary connect into the local PowerCo network. 

Stage 1 was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark on 15 September 2006.

 (see news release).

Photos of Stage 1 construction are available in the Gallery section of the website.

Stage 2 consisted of the installation of an additional 28 turbines plus the installation of the permanent electrical connection into the national grid via the Tararua wind farm injection point.

Stage 3 saw a further 32 turbines added and fully commissioned making a total of 65 turbines operational and producing electricity into the national grid by the end of November 2009.

Stage 4 construction works for the turbines installation on the Eastern Extension commenced in May 2010.

Construction and commssioning of the final 32 turbines on the Eastern Extension  was completed by July 2011 bringing all 97 turbines into operation and generating electricity into the national grid and completing the wind farm.

Wind Turbine Technology

At Te Rere Hau we are using the two bladed, New Zealand designed and manufactured Windflow 500 Turbines.

These 500 kW turbines are 30 metres high and have a rotor diameter of 33 metres.  Each turbine produces enough electricity to power approximately 200 households a year.

Photos of the first five turbines being manufactured for the Te Rere Hau wind farm are available in our Photo Gallery.