Blade runner

The next stage of the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm is spinning into action this week, as its first 88m-tall turbines arrive fresh off the boat at Bluff.

Two 67m long blades and 88m towers came off a ship at the port about 3am yesterday and were taken to Mercury Energy’s wind farm.

Site manager Stu Davie said since June last year, specialist teams had been priming the grounds for the turbines’ arrival.

The large pieces were to be handed over to assembly crews who positioned them around a crane which fitted the turbine parts into place.

The large-scale assemblage will begin on November 24.

A Mercury Energy spokesman said it hoped to have the first turbine assembled by Christmas.

Once stage one and two were completed, the wind farm would be able to power the equivalent of about 93,000 homes.