Electricity Transmission Route from Te Uku Wind Farm Finalised

WEL Networks announced today that it has finalised plans for its soon-to-be-built electricity transmission route that will connect the Te Uku Wind Farm, near Raglan, with WEL Network’s substations at Te Kowhai and Te Uku.

 

This follows the joint announcement by Meridian Energy and WEL Networks on 15 October that the Te Uku Wind Farm project will go ahead.

 

The Company expects to begin removing vegetation along the transmission route before Christmas. New power poles will begin to be erected around February next year and the entire transmission route will be built and commissioned by October 2010.

 

There are several changes to WEL Network’s original transmission route plans. Primarily, these involve downgrading the lines from 110kV to 33kV and undergrounding one-third of the lines along the 25 kilometre route.

 

Dr Julian Elder, CEO of WEL Networks, says the changes came about primarily because the wind farm will have less capacity than originally consented.

 

“The Te Uku Wind Farm will have a capacity of 64 megawatts upon completion. This is 20 megawatts less than originally consented. This change means WEL can now use 33kV lines, which are the same type of lines currently used throughout the region. This change will allow us to save around $6 million on the project.

 

“We’ve also listened to the concerns of landowners who have asked for undergrounding where possible. We have been able to put together a slightly different route that allows us to underground one third of the line. A benefit of doing this undergrounding is that it’s unlikely we’ll have to remove trees and vegetation along those portions of the route,” explained Dr Elder.

 

Dr Elder said another major change is that a substation will no longer be required at the wind farm site. Rather, a small, fully enclosed switching station building will now contain all electrical gear and equipment.

 

WEL Networks has submitted its altered transmission route plans to Waikato District Council for approval.

 

In addition to building the new transmission route, WEL Networks will perform maintenance and upgrading on 10 kilometres of overhead lines from Cogswell Road to Whatawhata. This work involves replacing the old wires on the current line with new wire and will happen following the completion of the new transmission route. The maintenance and upgrading work will bring the line up to WEL’s standards and improve security of supply in the local area.

 

All landowners along the transmission route have either been posted information or spoken with face-to-face about the changes to the transmission route plan.

 

If anyone has questions about the finalised electricity transmission route, they can phone 0800 Te Uku Wind (0800 838 589).