Lauriston Solar Farm
| Lauriston Solar Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Lauriston |
| Coordinates | 43°43′51.56″S 171°47′21.95″E / 43.7309889°S 171.7894306°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | April 2024 |
| Construction cost | NZ$104 million |
| Owner | Genesis Energy Limited |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Site area | 93 ha |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 47 MW AC (63 MW DC) |
| Annual net output | 97 GWh[1] |
The Lauriston Solar Farm is a photovoltaic power station under construction at Lauriston in Canterbury. The farm will be owned by a joint venture between Genesis Energy Limited and FRV Australia. When complete the farm will cover 93 hectares (230 acres)[2] and generate 47 MW of electricity.[1] It is expected to be the largest solar farm in New Zealand when complete,[3] though only briefly as a larger solar plant is under construction near Taupō.[4]
The project was originally announced by HES Aotearoa, who obtained resource consent in June 2022.[5] The project was then bought by a joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia in February 2023.[6] Construction was announced in January 2024, when Genesis signed a ten-year electricity purchase agreement for the farm.[2] A sod-turning ceremony was held in April 2024,[7][8][9] and construction began after that. As of November 2024, Genesis Energy said the project was on track and would begin generated power in December 2024 and be brought to full generation in the months after that.[4]
In May 2024, Genesis signed a ten year power supply contract with Spark New Zealand which would see Spark take all power from the solar farm.[10]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Lauriston Solar Farm". Genesis Energy Limited. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Govt-owned Genesis, Saudis and Canadians building $104m solar farm". New Zealand Herald. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Genesis to build nation's biggest solar power farm in Canterbury". RNZ. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ a b Leask, Jonathan (7 November 2024). "Country's largest solar farm prepares to power up, as green waste piles up". RNZ. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ Jonathan Leask (17 June 2022). "Large-scale solar farm planned in Mid Canterbury". Stuff. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Genesis Energy gives green light for $70m solar power plant in Canterbury". Stuff. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Building begins on NZ's largest solar farm in Canterbury". RNZ. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Jamie Gray (23 April 2024). "Genesis Energy, FRV start $104 million Canterbury solar project". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ Anisha Satya (19 August 2024). "NZ's biggest solar farm charges ahead". Ashburton Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Spark to take solar power from Genesis' Lauriston project". New Zealand Herald. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
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