Mercury Energy has placed a 155 MW order to Vestas for the second stage of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore in New Zealand.
Vestas did not reveal the financial details of the wind deal. Mercury Energy’s other delivery partners include Higgins and Electronet.
Vestas has already supplied wind turbines for the first stage of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm. Stage 1 of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm, which saw an investment of $115 million, was completed in November 2023. It generates enough energy to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes.
Mercury Energy earlier revealed its agreement to supply power to the New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) at Tiwai Point.
Mercury is planning to spend $486 million on the wind farm project, bringing its total investment in new renewables to more than $700 million in 2024. Construction of stage 2 of the wind farm commenced in June 2024. It will add 36 new turbines and increase installed capacity from the current 43MW to 198MW.
Mercury Energy’s 155 megawatt (MW) project will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 73,000 homes a year.
The investment will increase the capacity of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm to 198 MW, making it the second largest in New Zealand, with construction expected to begin this month and full generation available by the end of 2026.
Vestas said the order includes the supply and installation of 36 of Vestas’ V136-4.2 MW turbines in 4.3 MW operating mode as well as a 30-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service and maintenance contract.
“Upon completion of stage two, Kaiwera Downs will accelerate the country’s decarbonisation ambitions,” said Danny Nielsen, Senior Vice President and Country Head of Vestas Australia & New Zealand.
“Together, we will have added more than 400 MW of renewables into New Zealand’s electricity mix once the Kaiwera Downs wind farm is complete,” said Mercury’s Executive General Manager Portfolio, Phil Gibson.
Kaiwera Downs stage one and two will become New Zealand’s second largest wind farm and is expected to create approximately 150 jobs during the peak of construction.
Vestas said it will start the delivery of wind turbines in the fourth quarter of 2025, with commissioning to commence in the first quarter of 2026.
Baburajan Kizhakedath