Lauriston Solar Farm

Lauriston Solar Farm
CountryNew Zealand
LocationLauriston
Coordinates43°43′51.56″S 171°47′21.95″E / 43.7309889°S 171.7894306°E / -43.7309889; 171.7894306
StatusOperating
Construction beganApril 2024
Commission dateFebruary 2025
Construction costNZ$104 million
OwnerGenesis Energy Limited
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area93 ha
Power generation
Nameplate capacity47 MW AC (63 MW DC)
Annual net output97 GWh

The Lauriston Solar Farm is a photovoltaic power station at Lauriston in Canterbury. The farm is owned by a joint venture between Genesis Energy Limited and FRV Australia. The farm covers 93 hectares (230 acres) and generates 47 MW of electricity. It is currently the largest solar farm in New Zealand, though a larger solar plant is under construction near Taupō.

The project was originally announced by HES Aotearoa, who obtained resource consent in June 2022. The project was then bought by a joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia in February 2023. Construction was announced in January 2024, when Genesis signed a ten-year electricity purchase agreement for the farm. A sod-turning ceremony was held in April 2024, and construction began after that. By November 2024, Genesis Energy said the project was on track and would begin generated power in December 2024. The solar farm reached full capacity in February 2025, and was officially opened in April 2025.

Electricity generated at the solar farm is fed into EA Networks' distribution network at the nearby Lauriston zone substation. In May 2024, Genesis signed a ten year power supply contract with Spark New Zealand to see Spark take all power from the solar farm.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Lauriston Solar Farm". Genesis Energy Limited. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Govt-owned Genesis, Saudis and Canadians building $104m solar farm". New Zealand Herald. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Genesis to build nation's biggest solar power farm in Canterbury". RNZ. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 Leask, Jonathan (7 November 2024). "Country's largest solar farm prepares to power up, as green waste piles up". RNZ. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Jonathan Leask (17 June 2022). "Large-scale solar farm planned in Mid Canterbury". Stuff. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Genesis Energy gives green light for $70m solar power plant in Canterbury". Stuff. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Building begins on NZ's largest solar farm in Canterbury". RNZ. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Jamie Gray (23 April 2024). "Genesis Energy, FRV start $104 million Canterbury solar project". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  9. ↑ Anisha Satya (19 August 2024). "NZ's biggest solar farm charges ahead". Ashburton Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "Lauriston Solar Farm". Genesis Energy. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  11. ↑ Jamie Gray (29 April 2025). "NZ's biggest solar farm opens, boosts renewable energy in Canterbury". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Spark to take solar power from Genesis' Lauriston project". New Zealand Herald. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.