Phase one of the project would involve the construction of 17 turbines 22 kilometres out to sea out from Raglan (file image). Photo: 123RF / Ian Dyball
Plans have been revealed for a wind farm off the Waikato coast, capable of eventually generating enough power for 700,000 homes.
A consortium of international and local companies are behind the project, which is aimed at producing 1.4-gigawatts of electricity, at a cost of between $5 billion and $7b.
Phase one of the project would involve the construction of 17 turbines 22 kilometres out to sea out from Raglan.
It would produce 250-megawatts of electricity.
The consortium said the project was in the feasability stage, which could take up to six to eight years, but if it got the regulatory go-ahead construction was expected to start before 2030.
Construction of phase one would create around 300 jobs in construction, operations and maintenance, it said.
Phase two would mean another 800 jobs would be created and generation of between 800 and 1150 megawatts of power.
The consortium said the project would need significant investment in infrastructure before it could go ahead.
Partnership director Justine Gilliland ''There needs to be significant investment in ports in order for us either to be able to ideally create some of these turbines and bases locally or even if we have to import them we still need significant facilities at ports.''
Eventually up to 1100 jobs will be created with the off-shore wind-farm, Gilliland said.
The aim was to have the first turbines in the water by the end of the decade.
Simon Currie from Australian company Energy Estate said Waikato aws an ideal spot for a off-shore wind-farm.
''You have got an excellent wind resource, you have got good sea conditions for building and also in terms of depth.
"We can develop the first phase, which is fixed bottom, rather than floating and you have the ability to connect both into Glenbrook, so to the sub-station at the steel mill and then to find a way to Huntly, which is really the energy hub in the upper North Island.''
Earlier this month, the group released plans for a 900-megawatt wind-farm offshore from South Taranaki.
The consortium is also looking at possibly building an off-shore wind-farm in Southland.