Contact Energy's (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN) application for the Southland Windfarm, the largest wind farm project in New Zealand, was granted fast-track approval, according to a Thursday statement by New Zealand's government.

The wind farm will generate up to 380 megawatts and includes 55 wind turbines, each up to around 7 megawatts in capacity. It will provide power for up to 150,000 households. On being commissioned, it will employ about 10 to 14 full-time equivalent staff.

Approval for the project took around five months after the commencement of an expert panel, New Zealand's Minister of Housing and Minister for Infrastructure said. In addition to the turbines, a wind farm substation, and access roads, the project's second major component involved grid connection work, he added.

Contact's shares rose past 1% in recent Thursday trading on the New Zealand bourse.