A large-scale solar farm in Lauriston is expected to start generating electricity next year and should impact local power prices.
Genesis Energy, and its joint venture partner FRV Australia, have secured the fully consented 90-hectare site that will hold around 80,000 solar panels with a capacity of 52mW and generate around 80gWh of renewable electricity annually.
The site has been purchased from United Kingdom-based Hive Energy for an undisclosed amount, and being fully consented, with advanced grid connection approvals, it is ready for panel installation to begin.
The solar farm will be connected to EA Networks’ Lauriston zone substation and will produce the equivalent of approximately 13 per cent of EA Network’s annual energy needs from using just 0.03 per cent of the land, and sheep will still be able to graze under the panels.
EA Networks is a locally owned co-operative network company, which owns and operates Mid Canterbury’s electricity distribution network – with the Ashburton District Council being the majority shareholder.
Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said it sounds like an exciting development and anything that adds to local power generation is a good thing, “especially if it will benefit the district by reducing power bills”.
Brown said representatives from Genesis will be meeting with the council later this month to provide an overview of the project.
The district already has the Highbank hydroelectric power station that can generate up to 25mW.
EA Networks chief executive, Roger Sutton, said that the development aligns a strong community focus and a key goal of achieving lower electricity costs.
“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to support this development, as we expect it will drive lower energy prices for our customers when they are using the most,” Sutton said.
Sutton has previously said the average load on the network during the day in winter is around 50mW and rises to 180mW in summer when irrigators are in full swing.
The rural network was built to support the large irrigation load it currently manages, he said, and can absorb large-scale solar farms.
“We anticipate renewable solar generation will help with summer peaking electricity demands, as well as providing greater resilience for the local community.
“Also, one of our leading opportunities to decarbonise is to electrify, using electricity for commercial heating processes and ensuring there is capacity for increasing numbers of electric vehicles.
“We are ready to play our part in this transition, but for it to work, we will need more renewable generation. It’s great to see a solution being developed in our own backyard.”
The project is expected to create more than 50 jobs during the construction phase, set to start later this year, and employ up to three full-time staff once it’s operational.
Genesis interim chief executive Tracey Hickman said solar is a good addition to New Zealand’s generation mix and “when it reaches scale it will play an important role in helping manage dry year risk when hydro levels are low and the wind doesn’t blow”.
FRV Australia will bring its international experience to complete the installation and commissioning of the Lauriston development.
FRV Australia chief executive, Carlo Frigerio, said the site should be up and running relatively quickly.
“We will focus our efforts on completing preparations so we can start construction later this year and connect the project as soon as possible,” Frigerio, said.

• By Jonathan Leask