Contact Energy gets approved for 504MW wind project

Contact Energy has received approval from New Zealand's ministry of environment for the construction of the 504MW Hauauru Maraki wind farm near the west coast of the country's North Island.

The company will install about 168 wind turbines and transmission lines near the coast between Raglan and Port Waikato.

The turbines are restricted to 150m high with a maximum of three 50m blades, which must be light grey or off-white in colour, with a low reflectivity finish.

Upon completion, the Hauauru ma raki wind farm will be capable of generating electrity sufficient to power about 170,000 average homes.