Danish wind turbine OEM Vestas has won a 103MW engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with local electricity generator and retailer Mercury to boost the capacity of the Turitea wind farm to 222MW and thus make it New Zealand’s largest.

“ We are pleased to be able to complete this project with Vestas by encompassing all 60 consented turbines,” Mercury chief executive Fraser Whineray said.

Vestas will supply 27 of its V112-3.45MW turbines (in a 3.8MW power optimised mode) for the project near Palmerston North. They will operate alongside an initial 33 of its V112-3-35MW machines (operating in 3.6MW).

“Vestas shares Mercury’s commitment to a sustainable future, and we are pleased to expand our relationship to complete New Zealand’s biggest wind farm,” said Vestas Asia Pacific president Clive Turton.

“The deal will further strengthen our leadership position in the New Zealand market, expand our service footprint and create local jobs”.

Turitea will increase the OEM’s installed capacity in New Zealand to 568MW.

The order comes with a 25-year service agreement.

Commissioning of the 27 additional turbines is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2021.