Mercury to expand Southland wind farm after smelter deal

Mercury to expand Southland wind farm after smelter deal
Turbines at Mercury's stage one Kaiwera Downs wind farm. (Image supplied: Mercury Energy)
Staff reporters
Mercury Energy has confirmed it is going ahead with a $486 million expansion of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore, after signing a long-term power supply agreement with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters last week. Construction is due to start this month but is dependent on the Electricity Authority approving the remaining NZ Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) supply contracts. Once that is done, Mercury will issue contractors with notices to proceed. The stage-two expansion will add 36 turbines and generate 155 megawatts (MW), or 525 gig...