New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Te Apiti Windfarm

Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd

"Despite the rugged nature of the terrain making cabling and line construction difficult, Meridian’s Te Apiti Windfarm, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, was completed within twelve months, on time and within budget.""
– Dr Bas Walker, Chief Judge

Commissioned on 26 July 2004, the windfarm comprises 55 x 1.65 MW turbines with a capacity of 90MW. Beca was engaged to provide design and engineering for 22kV cable reticulation, a 22/110 kV substation and the 4.5km, 110kV transmission line to connect to the national grid. 

Beca attributes the success of the project to the close teamwork between the participants. Over 20km of site roading and 40km of underground cabling was required. Transmission line poles were designed to be similar in appearance to the generator towers, and care was taken to ensure, as far as possible, agreement with land owners on their placement.

Compliance with the new Electricity Governance Rules was necessary to ensure the integrity of the national grid was not compromised.

The design, installation, commissioning and operation of Te Apiti Windfarm has been a success story. The knowledge and experience gained from the project is of great interest locally and internationally.

Proudly sponsored by: Tyco Electronics