Projects
Harapaki Windfarm
Client
- Meridian Energy
Project Leads
Sector
Location
- Gisborne – Hawkes Bay
The Harapaki Windfarm project stands as a cornerstone of Meridian Energy's commitment to New Zealand's decarbonisation strategy. With an investment of approximately $450 million, this significant renewable energy initiative was designed to replace older generation methods with clean, sustainable power.
RCP's contribution to the project came primarily through a senior RCP team member’s extensive familiarity with Meridian's systems, processes, and key personnel which made us uniquely positioned to deliver immediate value
RCP provided targeted expertise across two distinct phases of the project. During the pre-construction phase, RCP served as Pre-Construction Project Manager, guiding the crucial development stage before business case approval. This involved coordinating multiple specialised work streams including civil engineering, electrical balance of plant, turbine engineering, and Transpower grid connection. Our management leveraged Meridian's in-house expertise to conduct comprehensive risk assessments using advanced Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) tools, which both quantified and qualitatively evaluated potential risks. We oversaw the completion of detailed Balance of Plant designs to support accurate project costing, guided the procurement process for major contracts, and co-wrote the business case that secured board approval.
Our procurement expertise was particularly valuable, as RCP co-authored the civil tender documentation, served as a tender evaluator for both civil and electrical balance supply work streams, and were also involved in the drafting and negotiation of the turbine supply contract, representing approximately 70% of the project's overall value. This pre-construction work resulted in a thoroughly developed business case with fully realised designs and market-tested pricing, providing Meridian's board the confidence needed to approve such a substantial investment.
Following business case approval and handover to the construction project manager, our role evolved to provide specialised support. RCP served as Engineer to Contract for the $165 million civil works contract which included undertaking ETC HS Audits of the Civil Contractor. RCP also provided expert advisory services to the Project Team as needed. Responsibilities expanded to include assisting with contractual matters during extraordinary events, particularly the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and three cyclones that impacted the site. Our expertise in contract administration complemented that of the Project Team and ensured the project stayed on track despite these disruptions, supported by effective contingency planning and insurance arrangements that protected the project budget.
The Harapaki Windfarm was delivered within a month of its original completion date and within the project’s capital forecast. Our team’s established relationship with Meridian Energy, comprehensive understanding of their systems and processes, and intricate wind farm expertise allowed us to seamlessly integrate into the team and provide immediate value during critical project phases. The successful implementation of proven procurement and
risk management approaches established a framework that Meridian continues to apply to subsequent renewable energy developments.
The completed Harapaki Windfarm demonstrates how the combination of technical knowledge and relationship-based consulting can deliver exceptional results for regionally and nationally significant projects.
