INFORMATION FOR
LANDOWNERS
Wind farms co-exist with other rural activities and have many benefits for farmers and landowners, including new income streams and improved site access.
Traditional agriculture can continue underneath and around the wind farm, once construction is complete. When the wind farm is operational a farmer is typically able to resume normal farming operations on approximately 95 per cent of the wind farm land.
If you want to host a wind farm on your land, you will need to consider a range of factors such as the suitability of the site such as wind speeds and durations, legal commitments, construction impacts and the effect of the wind farm on other land use activities.
Construction Impacts
There will be disruption to normal farming activities during the construction of a wind farm, including frequent traffic movements. However, developers are experienced at working with farmers to manage any such disruption. The construction phase will typically take between 18 - 24 months to complete. Impact on livestock is relatively minimal during this time provided that there is good communication between farm management and the construction team.
Ongoing Impacts
The impact of an operating wind farm on livestock is minimal. Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines and typically graze right up to the base of the towers, which they often use as rubbing posts or for shade. Extensive tall tree planting can slow the wind and cause turbulence and both of these factors will reduce the commercial returns generated by the wind farm. Stock shelters and environmental native plantings can normally be accommodated.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
TALK TO A DEVELOPER
Most wind farm developers in New Zealand are members of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association. If you want to know more, get in touch with us.
How much land is needed for a windfarm?
It depends on the size of the proposed wind farm, but most utility-grade wind farms in Aotearoa NZ are between 150 MW – 200 MW in capacity, with some being as large as 300 MW. The total area of land needed to host a typical sized wind farm of, say 200 MW is 800 – 1000 hectares. The individual turbine spacing is dependent on the size of the rotor but in the order of 250m to 800m. The footprint of the turbines and access tracks is usually about 1 to 5 per cent of the total land area. Once the wind farm is built, a farmer is typically able to resume normal farming operations on the remaining 95 to 99 per cent of the wind farm.
How long does it take for the wind farm to become operational?
Once you decide to co-exist with a wind farm on your land, it can take as long as 8-10 years before construction can actually start. Under the Resource Management Act, there many environmental, social, technical and commercial matters to be considered, all of which require time and cost to complete.
What’s involved in designing a wind farm?
Designs are developed iteratively and refined over time as more information becomes available, such as from site investigations, wind speed data and confirmation of planning requirements.
How long do wind farms operate for?
Wind farms typically have an asset life of 30-35 years depending on how much they actually operate due to the individual wind conditions, so the relationship between the landowner and the developer enduring?
What happens after the wind farm reaches the end of its life?
After 35 years operating, there are generally two choices that the developer and landowner have, i.e. to decommission the whole wind farm and return the land to its former state (as agreed with the landowner and conditions of consent), or to ‘re-power’ the wind farm using more modern wind turbines, therefore extending the life of the wind farm for a further 20-30 years.
What are the construction impacts?
There may be disruption to normal farming activities during the construction of a wind farm, including frequent traffic movements. However, developers are experienced at working with farmers to manage any such disruption. The construction will typically require between 12 and 24 months. Impact on livestock is minimal during this time provided that there is good communication between farm management and the construction team.
LANDOWNER
FAQ's
View some of our most frequently asked questions from landowners.
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If you’d like to discuss anything related to Wind Energy with our team we’d love to hear from you.