Construction of Te Äpiti began in mid-November 2003. Major work was needed to construct 21km of roads and excavate the turbine foundations. The roads were constructed to 10 metres to carry the width of the 400-tonne crawler crane that was used to install the turbines.
They were regrassed back to five metres after the turbines were erected.
Construction was completed within 12 months and the wind farm was officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen Clark, on 9 December 2004.
Te Äpiti is the first New Zealand wind farm to supply electricity into the national grid, which is owned by Transpower. Other wind farms supply local networks.
Key facts about Te Apiti
Capacity 90 MW from 55 turbines, each 1.65 MW, producing enough power for approximately 45,000 average homes.
Towers 3 sections: base 17 metres in length, 46 tonnes; middle 19 metres, 33 tonnes; top 31 metres, 38 tonnes.
Nacelle 7.5 metres in length, 51 tonnes.
Blades 3, each 35 metres in length, 6 tonnes.
Hub 4 metres high, 21 tonnes.
Foundations 375 cubic metres of concrete, about 75 truck loads.
Underground cabling 48 km
Transmission line 4.5 kmTo Palmerston North
