Wind powers ahead with Mill Creek

Wind powers ahead with Mill Creek

15 June 2012, Global Wind Day

New Zealand’s wind energy industry is powering ahead as the world celebrates Global Wind Day, says Eric Pyle, the chief executive of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association.

“We welcome Meridian Energy’s announcement that it will build Mill Creek wind farm, just outside of Wellington. Today we are also celebrating the official opening of New Zealand’s newest wind farm, the 7.65 MW Mt Stuart wind farm in the Clutha District,” says Mr Pyle.

The difference in the size of these projects reinforces that wind energy is a cost effective form of new generation and an attractive investment option. “From the point of view of an investor, the major advantages of wind farms are that they can be built quickly and sized to fit both the developer’s strategy and market requirements,” says Mr Pyle. “This means we get the right amount of generation, in the right place at the right time.”

Construction of Mill Creek will see NZ’s wind industry continue along its growth path. Wind energy has grown over 25 per cent per year over the last few years, and now provides about 5% of New Zealand’s electricity. Wind is likely to be supplying 20% of New Zealand’s electricity by 2030.

“Growth in wind generation will create new business and employment opportunities,’” says Mr Pyle. “A cluster of businesses have developed skills and expertise in wind energy as the Manawatu wind farms expanded, and some of these businesses now export services and skills overseas. Mill Creek will further increase the opportunities in the industry.

“Last year over US$280 billion was invested in clean energy globally, and $84 billion of that was in wind. There is huge potential for New Zealand businesses that develop niche skills and products from their experience with our tremendous wind resource.”

Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June. It is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world. Last year, More than 230 events were organised in 40 countries all around the globe.

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