Meridian spokesman Alan Seay said the company had been monitoring a site for a number of years in the Nga Waka a Kupe range about 8-9km southeast of Martinborough.

It was possible the site could be suitable for up to 45 turbines which would generate enough power for around 40,000 average households, Mr Seay said.

But more investigation was needed before a decision was made to pursue development.

That work included seeking the views of local people, and studying the engineering feasibility and economic viability of a project, Mr Seay said.

A wind farm would use a local renewable resource to produce power for an area that did not generate much of its own electricity, but many other factors also had to be taken into account.

An application for resource consent was not imminent.