South Taranaki Offshore Wind Project
South Taranaki Offshore Wind is a 900MW offshore wind project to be located off the south coast of Taranaki region of New Zealand.
It will utilise fixed bottom offshore wind technology and provide new capacity to New Zealand’s electricity system - equivalent to powering over 430,000 homes. With a world class wind resource, access to a skilled and experienced workforce and proximity to existing energy transmission infrastructure, South Taranaki Offshore Wind will help decarbonise the local industrial ecosystem, power New Zealand into a net zero future and support the growth of energy intensive industries in the Taranaki region.
Project location
The map below shows the proposed location of South Taranaki Offshore Wind which has been selected after extensive analysis by our team and consultants. The map also shows the potential onshore routes which would enable the project to be connected to Transpower’s transmission network.
In order to help gain an understanding of what turbines may look like from various locations, we have prepared some early visualisations. These visualisations are intended for indicative purposes only. The visual simulation is indicative of a project consisting of 60 turbines with a maximum height of 268m from sea surface to blade tip.
Click below to see what the project may look like from shore.
Why South Taranaki?
The South Taranaki region has an exceptional offshore wind resource. The region’s rich history in offshore energy and access to a deep water port provide strong synergies for development of the offshore wind industry. Utilising the strong skills base and nimble workforce in the region, offshore wind can provide local energy intensive industries with a new long term source of clean energy and support the development of new industries including Power-to-X. An offshore wind project in the South Taranaki region can help facilitate the diversification and decarbonisation of New Zealand’s energy supply, meet increased demands for electrification, improve security of supply and accelerate Net Zero targets. South Taranaki Offshore Wind will use proven fixed-bottom offshore wind technology.
Project timeline
We commenced work on the development of South Taranaki Offshore Wind in early 2021. We have completed the site selection phase and the proposed site has been chosen after detailed analysis by our local and global teams taking into a range of factors including offshore wind resources, bathymetry, cultural heritage, proximity to available transmission infrastructure and suitable ports and environmental attributes. The proposed site covers approximately 230 square kilometres and sits beyond the 12-mile nautical zone and outside the boundaries of the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary and the sensitive eco-system of the Patea Reef. One of the attractive features of the site location is a relatively flat sea floor with a water depth of less than 50 metres which means that it is suitable for fixed bottom turbine technology.
We are currently in the feasibility stage of development for the South Taranaki project. The development activities that are currently underway include:
Iwi partnership building
Coastal community and stakeholder engagement
Geospatial analysis
Wind resource assessment including collaborating with Beach Energy to install a LiDAR on the Kupe platform
Preliminary environmental assessment
Grid connection concept assessment with Transpower
Grid modelling study by third party expert consultants
Supply chain engagement and capacity building
Engagement of environmental specialists
Development of regulatory pathways and engagement with MBIE and other regulators
Release of visual simulations
