Why we won't choose a turbine (yet)
Any time we have talked about the Mount Cass Wind Farm this year we have discussed a range of turbine types and sizes as being possible for the site. This has lead to some people asking us why we can't make up our mind and just pick one.
This is a good question and it has a good answer. Simply, we don’t expect to get a good response from turbine suppliers until we have a resource consent and limiting the size of the turbine, at this stage, may limit the number of suppliers who will bid in future.
Read on for a bit more info…
The international wind turbine market these days can only be described as a “sellers market”. Most manufacturers have order books full for the next two years and there are critical shortages of key components (gearboxes and blades spring to mind).
Bidding for projects is a substantial task for the manufacturers and they are more inclined to put their effort into the big subsidised markets (eg Europe, USA and China), where the orders are for hundreds of turbines. The manufacturers know that there are a lot of risks in the NZ market, resource consenting being a major one, it is very hard to predict in advance when, or whether, a project will go ahead.
Under these conditions it will be very hard for us, as a new project developer with a small project, to get a competitive tender price for turbines. We can't change who we are, or the scale of the project, but we can remove the resource consent factor by getting consent first and then running a tender for turbines later.
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I should imagine having a local supplier would weigh heavily in your decision making process. As long as local turbines are reasonably well proven technically and competative in price, local means prompt supply of parts and expertise if anything goes wrong. In the present sellers market, this could be a prime consideration. Outside suppliers just might not have time to help a small customer.
Posted by William Hughes-Games, 29/10/2007 4:08pm (3 years ago)
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In a word, yes. We can see many benefits in having Windflow as a local supplier in just the manner you describe. We would hope that our staff could train up with Windflow and similarly Windflow would have the benefit of having a site that they only have to travel one hour to - with no flying.
Also - not to be underestimated is the fact that when it is windy in Waipara it is often warm and sunny...this is a stark contrast to the Manawatu and WellingtonPosted by Andrew Hurley, 01/11/2007 3:37pm (3 years ago)
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