Lauriston Solar Farm Explained

Lauriston Solar Farm
Country:New Zealand
Location:Lauriston
Status:Under construction
Construction Began:April 2024
Cost:NZ$104 million
Owner:Genesis Energy Limited
Solar Type:Flat-panel PV
Ps Site Area:93 ha
Ps Electrical Capacity:63 MW

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 and generate 63 MW of electricity.[1] At the time of its announcement it was expected to be the largest solar farm in the country when complete.[2]

The project was originally announced by HES Aotearoa, who obtained resource consent in June 2022.[3] The project was then brought by a joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia in February 2023.[4] Construction was announced in January 2024, when Genesis signed a ten-year electricity purchase agreement for the farm.[1] A sod-turning ceremony was held in April 2024,[5] and the farm was expected to be generating electricity by the end of the year.[6] [7]

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.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Govt-owned Genesis, Saudis and Canadians building $104m solar farm . New Zealand Herald . 14 January 2024 . 23 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Genesis to build nation's biggest solar power farm in Canterbury . RNZ . 7 February 2023 . 23 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Large-scale solar farm planned in Mid Canterbury . Stuff . Jonathan Leask . 17 June 2022 . 23 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Genesis Energy gives green light for $70m solar power plant in Canterbury . Stuff . 7 February 2023 . 23 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Building begins on NZ's largest solar farm in Canterbury . RNZ . 23 April 2024 . 24 April 2024.
  6. Web site: Genesis Energy, FRV start $104 million Canterbury solar project . New Zealand Herald . Jamie Gray . 23 April 2024 . 23 April 2024.
  7. Web site: NZ's biggest solar farm charges ahead . Ashburton Guardian . Anisha Satya . 19 August 2024 . 19 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Spark to take solar power from Genesis’ Lauriston project . New Zealand Herald . 20 May 2024 . 21 May 2024.