The arrival into Bluff this week (2 May 2023) of giant turbine blades and other components for the Kaiwera Downs wind farm, near Gore, has heralded a countdown to Mercury NZ's $115m stage one project.

“Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm I is on track to be generating renewable electricity within six months’ time," according to Mercury’s GM Portfolio, Phil Gibson.

Started in October 2022, all the site's roads, crane pads and turbine foundations have now been completed and are ready for the turbines, Gibson said.

Underground wiring including a switchroom to the grid are now also ready.

Delivery of the extraordinarily long and heavy turbine parts is expected to begin this month with the final routes dependent on the load carried.

“The longest load is the blades at around 67m and heaviest load will be the base towers that weigh in at around 75 tonnes, so [a] shout out to the team at McNulty’s who are going to be driving this precious cargo from Bluff to the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm," Gibson said.

One of the first Kaiwera Downs turbine blades unloaded. Photo: South Port/Chris Howell

All loads will go through Invercargill, but the blades will travel through Edendale while the towers and nacelles will travel through Gore due to the weight of the loads.

“Safety for other road users and the communities we will travel through is a priority."

“We have scheduled truck movements which will commence mid May and continue through until the middle of June, usually during the early hours to minimise traffic disruption," Gibson said.

An artists impression of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm from the Old Coach Road. Photo: Mercury NZ

Once completed stage one of Mercury NZ's Kaiwera Downs wind farm is expected to power up to 21,000 households or run 66,000 EVs.

The energy company is also planning for a second stage to the wind farm which will see a maximum 240MV eventually generated from the site.