Turbine replacement after 20 years

Turbine being replaced after 20 years of service

 

ROSS GIBLIN/Fairfax NZ

COMING DOWN: Brooklyn's wind turbine is being replaced.

 

Wellington's most well-known wind turbine is due to be replaced, 20 years after it was commissioned.

 
Meridian Energy announced this morning the Brooklyn wind turbine was nearing the end of its design life and they were investigating replacing it with a new, modern turbine.
  
Chief executive Mark Binns said they were in the early stages of the project and were looking to lodge a resource consent application in October.
 
“Wellington City Council recently approved an extension on the lease of the land on which the turbine stands. The new lease will cover the life-time of a replacement turbine and allows the option of installing a larger turbine.”
  
The new turbine would be bigger as modern ones had generally increased in size and generation capability since the orginal turbine was built in 1993, Mr Binns said.
  
“The original turbine was installed for research purposes but any replacement turbine would need to have a commercial return.
  
"In the last 20 years turbine technology has developed significantly and there are now different designs available that are more efficient and generally bigger.”
 
In November 2009, the turbine suffered mechanical issues which forced it out of action for six months.
  
Meridian ran a public campaign on whether to retain it and 85 per cent of respondents said they wanted it repaired or replaced.
 
"We repaired the turbine so it could continue operating until the end of its design life. We’re approaching that point now and need to make a decision about the turbine.”
 
The current turbine is 45 metres tall from base to blade tip, and the council lease would allow a replacement turbine as tall as 77m.
 
Meridian will host an open day from 3pm until 7pm on Wednesday September 11 at Brooklyn School to discuss the project.