Paper suggests New Zealand’s North Island is ripe for development

A new report has highlighted the development potential for wind farms off the western coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

Researchers focused on the region of Taranaki, which boasts a long coastline, ample waters less than 50 metres deep and strong wind speeds of between 8.5 and 10.1 metres per second at hub height.

The paper was produced by the Taranaki region’s development agency, Venture Taraniki, and consultancy firm Elemental Group. Researchers identified two sites as particularly suitable for fixed-bottom offshore wind.

The largest is a 1,800 square-kilometre area located in the North Taranaki Bight, which is estimated to be able to accommodate up to 12GW of capacity.

A smaller 370 square-kilometre area in the south Taranaki Bight could play host to 2.4GW, the study said.

“If floating wind turbines are to be considered then another 14,000 km² of suitable area developed could deliver an additional 90GW into the New Zealand grid,” its authors wrote.

Elemental Group and Venture Taranaki said they hope the study can kick-start a discussion about offshore wind development in the country.