Mercury NZ's Kaiwera Downs Windfarm is now officially online with it's ten turbines expected to generate enough electricity to power over 20,000 households.

An opening ceremony was held on site yesterday (20 Nov) and was attended by Mercury NZ representatives, community members, landowners and delivery partners.

Construction of the 43MW Eastern Southland windfarm began in October 2022, with Mercury saying it was completed under budget and to schedule.

The energy company is now actively considering its next renewable projects, which includes a stage two for the Kaiwera Downs windfarm and could bring the site's total capacity increase to 228MW.

Mercury GM Portfolio, Phil Gibson said the Kaiwera Downs windfarm was part of Mercury’s premium renewable growth pipeline and a meaningful way in which the company could support New Zealand's climate change goals.

“This milestone marks the completion of a great project in terms of safety, time, cost and quality – it’s been a great project for us and our partners."

“Gore District Council and community, Transpower and the landowners have also been incredibly supportive and accommodating during the development and construction.”

Gibson said the project was just one example of commitment from across the electricity sector to New Zealand’s low emissions future.

He said Mercury had already committed to spending $1 billion in the 2024 year on renewable generation.

Mercury's Kaiwera Downs windfarm now joins Pioneer Energy’s eight turbine Flat Hill windfarm near Bluff and Meridian Energy’s twenty nine turbine White Hill windfarm near Mossburn.

Other proposed Southland windfarms include a ten turbine site at Jericho Station near Blackmount and a fifty turbine site at Slopedown near Wyndham.

An offshore windfarm is also currently under investigation.