Windflow Technology

Windflow Technology was a New Zealand renewable-energy engineering company headquartered in Christchurch. Established in 2000, it developed, manufactured, supplied, and supported wind turbines, with particular emphasis on a distinctive gearbox architecture and two-bladed turbine machines intended for sites with challenging wind conditions. Its principal product was the 500 kW Windflow 500, later associated with the 45-500 designation in an overseas prototype installation. The company became one of New Zealand’s more visible specialist wind-technology businesses during the country’s early expansion of wind generation. It was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in 2003, giving it access to public capital while it pursued turbine development and commercial projects. In October 2008, Mighty River Power acquired a 19.95% interest. Windflow also obtained outside technical and commercial validation: its Windflow 500 achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for design and production in 2008, and in September 2010 the model obtained Class 1A certification under the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 61400-1 edition 3 standard through Lloyd’s Register. Windflow’s New Zealand activities included the development of the Te Rere Hau Wind Farm near Palmerston North. Through the New Zealand Windfarms vehicle, it initially arranged ownership and operation of the project before that interest was sold. Windflow supplied 97 turbines for Te Rere Hau, making the project an important demonstration of the company’s ability to deploy its machines at utility scale. The company was also contracted to supply turbines for Mighty River Power’s proposed Long Gully Wind Farm, although Mighty River later withdrew from that project. Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy ultimately selected European turbine models for their projects rather than Windflow machines. The company’s domestic development work also exposed it to the consenting and community issues common to wind projects. A turbine at Gebbies Pass near Christchurch faced opposition from nearby residents concerned about noise, particularly because the sheltered valley had little background sound. Windflow offered to meet a 30 dBA limit, below the local council’s usual 40 dBA requirement. Initial measurements were higher than the offer, at 35 dBA, prompting a gearbox modification. Subsequent measurements fell within the turbine’s resource-consent requirements. The Gebbies Pass turbine was dismantled in 2016. Windflow pursued international expansion during the 2010s, particularly in the United Kingdom and North America. A licensing agreement signed in March 2012 with GD Satcom, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, covered manufacture and sale of the 500 kW turbine in North and South America, Africa, and specified United States territories and military bases. In the United Kingdom, the company benefited from the government’s feed-in tariff regime and supplied turbines for island and rural projects. Its first announced export was a turbine for Westray in Orkney, installed in February 2013 at Hammer Farm. Further machines were installed on Orkney, in the Outer Hebrides, and elsewhere in Scotland, including three at Monan on Harris between 2014 and 2015. The two-bladed design was promoted for locations with turbulent or difficult wind conditions, such as the hills of North Harris. In May 2015, Windflow announced installation and first operation of a prototype 45-500 turbine in Mitchell County, Texas. The machine was intended to provide electricity for a desalination plant serving parts of the county outside municipal water networks. From March 2020, maintenance of the United Kingdom turbines was handled by Constantine Wind Energy. Windflow entered voluntary liquidation in December 2019, after which the company ceased operating as an active turbine manufacturer and developer. Its later delisting in November 2018 reflected the company’s uncertain prospects.

Windflow Technology was founded in Christchurch in 2000 during a period when New Zealand was assessing how to expand renewable electricity generation and develop domestic clean-technology capabilities. The company concentrated on wind turbines rather than operating as a conventional electricity retailer. Its engineering proposition combined a proprietary gearbox concept with a two-bladed turbine configuration. The design was intended to provide a practical alternative for smaller or more difficult sites, including locations affected by turbulent wind. The company became publicly listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in 2003. Listing provided a platform for raising capital and increasing visibility while Windflow worked to turn its turbine design into a commercial product. Its central offering became the 500 kW Windflow 500. In 2008, the machine’s design and production system achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. During the same year, Mighty River Power purchased 19.95 percent of Windflow Technology. The strategic investment connected the specialist manufacturer with a significant electricity-sector participant, although it did not lead to broad adoption of Windflow machines across New Zealand’s major electricity projects. One of the company’s most important domestic projects was Te Rere Hau Wind Farm near Palmerston North. Windflow established New Zealand Windfarms to own and operate the project, initially retaining full ownership before the interest was sold. The company supplied 97 turbines to the wind farm. Windflow also had a contract to supply turbines for Mighty River Power’s proposed Long Gully Wind Farm, but Mighty River subsequently withdrew from that development. Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy chose European turbines for their own projects, limiting Windflow’s role in the larger New Zealand utility market. The Gebbies Pass installation near Christchurch illustrated both the technical and social challenges facing wind developers. Local residents objected to noise from the turbine because the neighbouring valley was unusually quiet and sheltered. Windflow offered to meet a 30 dBA noise level, which was lower than the district council’s normal 40 dBA requirement. Measurements initially reached 35 dBA. The company modified the gearbox, after which later testing showed compliance with the resource consent. The turbine was ultimately dismantled in 2016. Windflow’s 2010 certification by Lloyd’s Register was another important technical milestone. The Windflow 500 received Class 1A under the third edition of IEC 61400-1, a design standard for wind turbines. The certification supported the company’s efforts to market the machine outside New Zealand. In March 2012, Windflow signed a licensing arrangement with GD Satcom, a General Dynamics subsidiary, allowing manufacture and sale of its 500 kW turbines in North and South America, Africa, and certain United States territories and military bases. The United Kingdom became the most visible overseas market. Government feed-in tariffs helped create demand for small and medium-sized renewable-energy installations. Although a contract for a Shetland turbine was signed in September 2011, Windflow announced its first export in 2012, and the first exported machine was installed at Hammer Farm on Westray in February 2013. Additional turbines were installed at New Holland Farm on Orkney, Ludenhill, Easter Aberchalder near Inverness, and a site north of Edinburgh. On Harris in the Outer Hebrides, the North Harris Trust worked with Windflow to install three turbines at Monan in 2014–2015. The company’s two-bladed machines were presented as suitable for the turbulent wind conditions among the North Harris hills. In May 2015, Windflow announced the installation and initial operation of a 45-500 prototype at a desalination plant in Mitchell County, Texas. The project was intended to provide power for water infrastructure serving areas outside municipal utility coverage. It represented an attempt to extend the company’s technology into a distributed industrial-energy application rather than limiting it to conventional wind-farm development. The company’s later commercial position weakened. Windflow was delisted from the New Zealand Stock Exchange in November 2018 because of uncertainty about its future. It entered voluntary liquidation in December 2019. United Kingdom turbines were maintained by Constantine Wind Energy from March 2020, indicating that support for existing machines continued after Windflow itself ceased operating. Windflow’s legacy lies in its attempt to build a domestically developed New Zealand wind-turbine platform and export it to specialized international projects.

• 2019

  Voluntary liquidation

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The company enters voluntary liquidation in December.

• 2018

  Delisting

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Windflow Technology delists from the New Zealand Stock Exchange in November.

• 2016

  Gebbies Pass turbine is dismantled

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The turbine involved in local noise concerns at Gebbies Pass is removed.

• 2013

  First exported turbine operates in Orkney

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The first exported Windflow turbine is installed at Hammer Farm on Westray.

• 2012

  International licensing agreement

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Windflow signs a licensing agreement with GD Satcom covering specified overseas markets.

• 2010

  IEC Class 1A certification

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Lloyd’s Register certifies the Windflow 500 to Class 1A under IEC 61400-1 edition 3.

• 2008

  Mighty River Power takes a minority stake

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Mighty River Power acquires 19.95 percent of the company.

• 2008

  ISO certification for Windflow 500

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The design and production of the Windflow 500 receive ISO 9001:2000 certification.

• 2003

  Stock-exchange listing

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  Windflow Technology is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

• 2000

  Windflow Technology is founded

  [1]Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org

  The Christchurch-based company begins developing and commercializing its own wind-turbine technology.

A specialist New Zealand wind-turbine engineering company focused on compact two-bladed machines, proprietary gearbox engineering, and deployment in sites where turbulent or difficult wind conditions made conventional turbine choices less suitable.

• 500 kW wind turbine

  Windflow 500

  The Windflow 500 was the company’s principal commercial turbine. It used Windflow’s distinctive gearbox design and a two-bladed rotor configuration, positioning it for distributed, community, and small wind-farm applications. The model achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for design and production in 2008 and received Class 1A certification under IEC 61400-1 edition 3 through Lloyd’s Register in 2010. It was supplied for New Zealand projects and exported to the United Kingdom.

• Prototype wind turbine · 2015

  45-500

  The 45-500 was a prototype associated with Windflow’s 500 kW technology. In 2015, a prototype was installed and operated at a desalination plant in Mitchell County, Texas. The application demonstrated the company’s interest in supplying power directly to industrial and public infrastructure, rather than limiting its turbines to conventional wind farms.

• 2012

  Pursue international licensing and export marketsStrategy

  Background

  Windflow sought to commercialize its 500 kW turbine beyond New Zealand, including in regions where small distributed wind projects could benefit from government support or specialized site capabilities.

  Action taken

  The company signed a licensing agreement with GD Satcom to manufacture and sell its turbines in specified markets across the Americas, Africa, and certain United States territories and military bases, while separately expanding into the United Kingdom.

  Aftermath

  Windflow exported turbines to Orkney and other Scottish locations and installed a prototype in Texas, but later entered voluntary liquidation.

  Source

• 2008

  Modify the Gebbies Pass gearbox to reduce noiseOther

  Background

  Residents near the Gebbies Pass turbine raised concerns about noise in a sheltered valley with very little background sound. Measurements reached 35 dBA, above Windflow’s proposed 30 dBA target.

  Action taken

  Windflow modified the gearbox and repeated acoustic testing. The later measurements fell within the limits of the turbine’s resource consent.

  Aftermath

  The turbine remained in operation until it was dismantled in 2016. The episode demonstrated the company’s willingness to alter its drivetrain in response to site-specific noise concerns.

  Source

1. 1Windflow Technologyen.wikipedia.org