Nov 03 - Dominion Post

Te Apiti wind farm in the Manawatu is having its share of equipment problems two years after commissioning but owner Meridian Energy says it's normal shake down of new kit.

Chief executive Keith Turner said there had been a range of problems, including gearbox faults where the bolts had not been tightened properly by the manufacturer.

There had also been assembly issues, where the blades had to be rebalanced, as well as hairline cracking in some parts of the machinery.

Dr Turner described the problems as "the normal range of settling- down issues".

He still had confidence in the manufacturer Vestas, which supplied 35 per cent of the world's wind turbines.

Meridian talked with many wind farm developers and they were experiencing similar problems.

Te Apiti is one of the windiest wind farm sites in the world. The wind speeds there have resulted in a cluster of wind farm developments in the area.

About five turbines were shut down at present with gearbox problems. Meridian said last month up to a dozen of the 55 turbines needed to have replacement parts ordered from Vestas.

Meridian had prudently taken a five-year warranty on the turbines at Te Apiti from the Danish manufacturer Vestas.

Dr Turner said there was "a bathtub curve" associated with new power plant where problems occurred at the beginning and later in the plant's life. Otahuhu B was an example where a transformer failed seven months after commissioning and Genesis' e3p gas-fired station at Huntly had had faults with welds in its steam boiler.

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