Work on a local large-scale renewable energy project is powering up in Mid Canterbury.

The "boots on the ground" stage of the $104-million grid-scale solar farm in Lauriston was celebrated with a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday.

The joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia is currently the largest solar project in the country and the first solar farm planned for Mid-Canterbury to start construction.

The 63 MW solar farm will be built on 93 hectares of land leased from third-generation Lauriston farmer Bernard Daley.

Daley runs a dryland cropping and dairy support farm with occasional store lambs and will run sheep below the solar panels once construction is complete.

The solar site was selected for its suitability for solar and sheep grazing without the need to cut down too many trees.

Daley said the solar farm had been in planning when Covid-19 put a stop to things for a while. It was "another string to the farm's bow" with an opportunity to farm power.

"It's quite exciting to get to this part with boots on the ground."

Part of the project included planting 3500 native trees on the farm - and the local community would also potentially benefit from initiatives planned by the joint venture he said.

The solar farm will have 80,000 solar panels and is expected to be online and supplying electricity by the end of the year. Once operational it will generate enough renewable energy to power 13,000 houses.

Construction partner, Beon Construction, expects to create more than 50 local during the construction phase - in addition to any specialists who would be needed on the project.

General manager Kieren Lewis said Beon was working with local labour providers to canvas applications for general labourer roles as well as people with trade skills.

Lewis said it was part of Beon's policy to assist people who were struggling to find employment or who had been out of the workforce for a while.

"That's where we can make an impact in the local community."

Based on experience in similar projects in Australia, giving people a chance was a way to get them back into meaningful long-term employment, he said.

FRV Australia chief executive said the Lauriston solar farm, when complete, would be the largest solar farm in New Zealand.

"This project demonstrates our pioneering spirit in leading sustainable energy transitions in new markets.

"Lauriston is just the beginning of our mission to bring together more solar projects to the country, powering a sustainable future for all.”

The joint venture partners have committed to producing 500MW of solar power in New Zealand. The Lauriston project will deliver 64MW of that.

Genesis Energy chief executive Malcolm Johns said discussions were underway to develop a pipeline across New Zealand for the remaining 440 MW but the next site was not confirmed as yet.

• Sharon Davis