K\u014dwhai Park, the largest solar farm on New Zealand\u2019s South Island, has officially opened in Christchurch, adding 168 MW DC\/150 MW AC of solar capacity to the country\u2019s electricity system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The NZD 273 million project was developed by New Zealand-based renewable energy company Contact Energy and UK-headquartered Lightsource bp. Both partners won a competitive bidding round to build the project in February 2023.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then, they said this would be the largest planned solar park in the country, with 150 MW planned under Phase I (see New Zealand\u2019s Solar Power Market Getting Active<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n Located at Christchurch Airport, the solar farm spans 230 hectares and comprises around 300,000 solar panels. It is expected to generate 275 GWh of electricity annually. This is equivalent to the yearly demand of approximately 36,000 homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n The project employed 235 people at peak construction and involved 66 local businesses. It is Lightsource bp\u2019s first completed solar farm in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n Christchurch Airport and dairy processor Synlait will purchase electricity from the project under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). Synlait will use 25% of the farm\u2019s output to supply its Dunsandel and Dairyworks facilities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson said, \u201cK\u014dwhai Park shows what can happen when you think differently about how airport land can be used.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n