Meridian Energy's 1-MW Antarctic wind farm tops output targets

Apr 19, 2012 - New Zealand's state-run power utility Meridian Energy Ltd said today that its 1-MW Ross Island wind farm in Antarctica has generated 111% of its targeted output between February 2011 and February 2012.

The wind farm, which includes three 330-kW wind turbines, kicked off operation in January 2010. It was built by Meridian to power New Zealand's Scott Base and the US McMurdo Station in Antarctica. According to the utility's calculations, the Ross Island wind farm has cut the two facilities' fossil fuel consumption by 11% and allowed them to save 463,000 litres (122.300 gallons) of diesel fuel per year.

Meridian Energy owns seven hydropower plants and four wind farm in New Zealand, as well as one wind farm in Australia.

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