Plans to roll out half a gigawatt of photo voltaic farms in New Zealand in a three way partnership between the Australian arm of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and native utility Genesis Power will kick off with a 52MW challenge close to Christchurch.
Saudi-backed FRV Australia and NZX-listed Genesis mentioned on Tuesday that that they had acquired the “totally consented” Lauriston photo voltaic farm from UK-based Hive Power, with development on the challenge anticipated to start later this 12 months.
FRV Australia CEO Carlo Frigerio says this places the photo voltaic farm within the operating to change into the primary actually large-scale challenge of to succeed in operational stage in New Zealand – and the most important of numerous initiatives at present being developed.
At present, the most important current photo voltaic farm in Aotearoa (land of the lengthy white cloud) stays the two.1 MW Kapuni plant in Taranaki, operated by Nova Power.
Elsewhere, NZ developer Lodestone Power has began early works on the 39.4MW Kaitaia photo voltaic farm being constructed within the far north of the North Island.
Nova can also be working up plans to determine a 400MW PV challenge on the North Island, whereas NZ’s Contact Power is growing its personal large-scale photo voltaic portfolio in partnership with Lightsource bp.
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The Australian arm of FRV – which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Latif Jameel Power – was announced in late 2021 because the winner of the aggressive tender to develop the 500MW photo voltaic pipeline in NZ with Genesis.
Genesis, which has an current technology portfolio of hydro, wind, geothermal and coal and gasoline crops, mentioned on the time that FRV Australia would maintain a 40% stake within the NZ photo voltaic belongings.
For Genesis, the most important electrical energy and pure gasoline retailer in NZ and 51% owned by the federal government, the 52MW Lauriston challenge is a part of plans to displace its 2,650GWh of baseload thermal technology with new renewables.
In the end, that may most definitely embrace the Huntly Energy Station, the most important fossil fuel-based generator in NZ, which mixes three 250MW coal-and-gas-fired steam turbine models, a 50MW gasoline peaking plant, and a 403MW mixed cycle gasoline turbine plant.
Beforehand, Genesis and FRV Australia have recommended a lot of the 500MW of photo voltaic capability they’re planning to roll out will probably be constructed on New Zealand’s North Island.
The Lauriston photo voltaic farm, nevertheless, is situated about one hour’s drive south of Christchurch on Aotearoa’s South Island.
FRV Australia CEO, Carlo Frigerio, says the location ticked quite a lot of packing containers and the photo voltaic farm will probably be up and operating rapidly.
“Lauriston photo voltaic farm is posed to be the primary giant scale photo voltaic farm reaching operational stage within the nation,” Frigerio mentioned.
Genesis interim CEO Tracey Hickman says photo voltaic is an efficient addition to New Zealand’s technology combine.
“When it reaches scale it should play an essential function in serving to handle dry 12 months danger when hydro ranges are low and the wind doesn’t blow,” she mentioned.
