Mercury Energy champions renewable growth as it switches on Kaiwera Downs wind farm

The 10-turbine 43 megawatt (MW) facility will have annualised generation of 147 gigawatt hours (GWh) a year.

Power company Mercury has flicked the switch on stage one of its Kaiwera Downs wind farm, near Gore.

The 10-turbine 43 megawatt (MW) facility will have annualised generation of 147 gigawatt hours (GWh) a year, adding enough renewable energy to power more than 20,000 households or 66,000 electric vehicles (EVs).

Construction of the project, which began in October 2022, had been completed under budget and to schedule, Mercury said.

NZX-listed Mercury said it was actively considering its next renewable projects, including stage two of Kaiwera Downs, on which it is near making a final investment decision. The two stages combined would take the total site capacity to 228MW.

Mercury general manager, portfolio, Phil Gibson, said Kaiwera Downs was part of Mercury’s premium renewable growth pipeline.

“Building more renewables is one of the most meaningful ways Mercury can support New Zealand to meet its climate change goals,” Gibson said.

Mercury expects to commit $1 billion in 2024 to renewable generation development to be constructed over the next three years, including the expansion of a fifth generating unit at its Ngā Tamariki geothermal station, announced in September.

Gibson said the Gore District Council and community, national grid operator Transpower, and local landowners had been “supportive and accommodating” during the development and construction.

Earlier this year, Mercury opened Turitea - New Zealand’s biggest wind farm - in the Tararua Ranges.

The project took three and a half years to build at a cost of around $450m.

Jamie Gray is an Auckland-based journalist, covering the financial markets and the primary sector. He joined the Herald in 2011.