Harapaki Wind Farm, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Situation

Meridian Energy, a New Zealand government-owned electricity generator and retailer, is responsible for the construction of the 176MW Harapaki Wind Farm in Hawke’s Bay. As the country’s second-largest wind farm, Harapaki will generate enough clean energy to power over 70,000 homes each year. With an investment of NZD395 million (approx. £187 million), the project plays a key role in supporting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals. Given the scale of power generation and harsh terrain, the infrastructure required robust cable restraint solutions to ensure safety, reliability, and performance across exposed and high-stress environments.

Solution

Ellis, in partnership with their dedicated New Zealand distributor OHUG, supplied Colossus™ and Flexi-Strap™ Cable Cleats, engineered for large-diameter cables and high-voltage scenarios typical in major power generation projects such as wind farms. Built to withstand extreme mechanical forces, the combination of Colossus™ and Flexi-Strap™ cleats provided a robust, long-term solution for restraining critical power cables across the Harapaki site.

A key bespoke element of the solution came when site conditions made underground cabling impractical. Rather than pursue this less-than-ideal route, OHUG, working closely with Ellis, developed an innovative alternative. Triple 33kV cables were instead secured to the underside of an existing three-tier framework using Colossus™ cleats and Flexi-Straps. This approach kept the cables protected from the elements, ensured their stability, and allowed easy access for maintenance, meeting both performance and practical needs.

Key advantages included:

• High-strength construction to handle large diameter cables and withstand extreme short circuit conditions.

• Durability and resilience ideal for exposed and elevated installations common in wind energy infrastructure.

• A bespoke, efficient solution that adapted to site constraints while ensuring safety and accessibility.

By combining the engineering strength of Ellis Colossus™ and Flexi-Strap™ cleats with OHUG’s expert support and problem-solving approach, the Harapaki Wind Farm safeguarded its cabling infrastructure against electrical and mechanical risks, contributing to the resilience and longevity of this nationally significant renewable energy asset.