Nordex Enters New Zealand Wind Market with First Order for 192 MW – 30-Year Service Agreement
Hamburg – Wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has received its first order from New Zealand, a large 192 MW order. The customer is energy utility Mercury, which is building a new wind farm on New Zealand’s South Island.
Nordex to Supply 40 Wind Turbines for Puke Kapo Hau Wind Farm
Under the contract, Nordex will supply 40 wind turbines of the N133/4.8 type with a total capacity of 192 MW. Nordex and Mercury have also signed a comprehensive service agreement with a term of 30 years.
The turbines are to be installed at the Puke Kapo Hau wind farm in the Otago region in the southeast of New Zealand’s South Island. According to Nordex, average wind speeds of more than 8 metres per second at the site provide favourable conditions for high electricity yields. Installation of the turbines on 90-metre steel tubular towers is scheduled to begin in early 2028, with first commissioning planned for mid-2028.
The new Puke Kapo Hau wind farm extends the Mahinerangi wind farm, which has been in operation since 2011 and currently has a capacity of 36 MW. Once completed, the combined site with 228 MW is set to become the largest wind farm in New Zealand. Mercury is investing NZD 506 million (around EUR 256 million, ECB reference rate of October 21, 2026) in the new 192 MW project and expects annual power generation of around 535 GWh.
Nordex has been active in Australia for several years and plans to build its own capacity in New Zealand for project execution and subsequent operation. Local service providers are to be involved in installation and commissioning.
Nordex shares, which are listed in the RENIXX World renewable energy stock index, are not visibly benefiting from the order today amid a generally weak market environment. After trading lower in the morning, the share price turned positive. The stock is currently up 0.56 percent at EUR 38.24 (3:49 p.m., October 22, 2026, Boerse Stuttgart).
Wind Energy in New Zealand: Installed Capacity Up More Than 80 Percent Since 2020
According to New Zealand’s economy ministry MBIE, installed wind capacity in New Zealand rose from 688 MW at the end of 2020 to 1,262 MW at the end of 2025. This represents an increase of around 83 percent. All installed wind capacity is onshore. While capacity grew significantly until 2024, expansion stagnated in 2025.
MBIE’s report “Energy in New Zealand 2026” shows that wind power generation reached around 3.81 TWh in 2025, accounting for 8.6 percent of total electricity production. Overall, 88.5 percent of New Zealand’s electricity was generated from renewable sources.
Wind energy expansion continues in 2026. In September, Mercury fully commissioned the second stage of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm with 155 MW. At the 76.8 MW Kaiwaikawe project, all turbines had been installed by the end of September.
7.5 GW Project Pipeline – New Permitting Rules Strengthen Expansion Outlook
Wind energy expansion in New Zealand is likely to gain significant momentum in the coming years. The wind energy association NZWEA puts the pipeline of planned and ongoing onshore wind farm projects at around 7.5 GW. The projects are at various stages of development and permitting. Not all of them are likely to be realised. However, in addition to the extensive project pipeline, improved permitting conditions support the prospect of faster expansion.
Revised national planning rules for renewable power generation have been in force since January 2026. The Fast-track Approvals Act also enables accelerated approvals for significant infrastructure projects. The expansion of the Mahinerangi wind farm also received approval under this procedure in July 2026.
The government aims to double renewable power generation by 2050. For Nordex, the extensive project pipeline offers the chance of further orders. What will be decisive is how many of the planned wind farms are actually built and what market position Nordex can establish after its first order.
Source: IWR Online, Oct 10 2026