Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), with its investment partner NZ Super Fund, is taking next steps to explore offshore wind potential off New Zealand’s South Taranaki coast.
NZ Super and CIP have submitted a pre-activity notice to New Zealand’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for a floating LiDAR (FLiDAR) device to be deployed 37 km off the South Taranaki coast to take resource measurements.
The FLiDAR, which is similar in size to a large ocean buoy, will be deployed for a minimum of 12 months and will measure area-specific wind speeds to help determine the feasibility of an initial up to 1GW clean energy project as well as the potential for an additional 1GW project.
The device is expected to be deployed late in the third quarter of 2022.
The pre-activity notice also includes the project area of interest within which the feasibility of the projects will be explored.
This comprises an area of approximately 900 sq km entirely within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
“This is an important step in understanding the wind resource that is available in our location of interest.
“Our initial research suggests the South Taranaki area has world-class fundamentals, however deploying the FLiDAR will help us build a fuller environmental picture and develop an investible proposition,” said NZ Super Fund head of direct investments Will Goodwin.
He added: “The ability to bring in this kind of globally in-demand equipment highlights the benefit of working with an international partner such as CIP.”
In addition to lodging the EPA application, the team has been “actively engaging” with local communities on the project and is building a partnership with local iwi as kaitiaki for the area.
“Ensuring we have strong buy-in is a key priority as we work through the development,” Goodwin said.
The project partners will soon commence industry capability mapping and marine ecology work in partnership with Iwi and collaboration with local community stakeholders.