It is also planning a smaller (70MW) windfarm for Dollar, south of Melbourne, and has received resource consents for a similar sized one in Mossburn, Southland, New Zealand.

Meridian spokesman Alan Seay said no decisions had yet been made on the size or precise configuration of the Macarthur windfarm, nor resource consent applications lodged for the possible NZ$500,000 project.

“It’s very early days, still an idea really,” Seay told EnergyReview.net from Wellington today.

But the project could have up to 250 turbines generating about 350MW, which would make it Australasia's largest wind farm.

Meridian’s 90MW Te Apiti wind farm in NZ’s Manawatu region is presently the largest either side of the Tasman Sea.

Meridian bought Southern Hydro in 2003 for NZ$630 million and is the only NZ government energy company to be operating in Australia so far, although private sector rival Contact Energy is part-owner of two power stations across the Tasman.

In other news, Meridian today reported a NZ$96.1 million profit for the six months ending December.

Chairman Francis Small said the strong financial performance came on the back of much better hydrology compared to the dry conditions of 2003 when a NZ$67 million result was recorded for the corresponding period.

The latest result would help Meridian continue to invest in new renewable generation to support the country’s energy future, according to Small.

“We are demonstrating the advantages of renewable energy in meeting New Zealand’s future electricity needs,” he said. “There are significant resources of wind and water in New Zealand to generate electricity from.”

Small said new renewable generation would help avoid New Zealand becoming dependent on imported fossil fuels.