New Zealand has rejected plans for one of the country’s largest wind farms, citing a range of impacts on plants and wildlife.
Kiwi utility Contact Energy had planned to build the 330MW Southland wind farm with 55 turbines. The project in Southland – towards the southern tip of New Zealand's south island – is among the largest wind farms planned in the country, according to “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Intelligence, the research and data division of “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç.
However, New Zealand’s expert consenting panel – set up by the government to accelerate permitting of projects to help the country’s economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic – rejected Contact's permitting application.
It cited a number of factors for its decisions, including effects on indigenous vegetation, avifauna, bats, lizards and invertebrates, and the natural landscape.
Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge described the decision as “extremely concerning”, and added: “We will take the time to review the decision and assess the next steps available to us.”
The utility noted that it can appeal the decision to the New Zealand's high court within 15 working days.
New Zealand has just over 1.2GW of operational wind power capacity – all of which is onshore – according to “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Intelligence.
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