NZ’s biggest solar farm opens, boosts renewable energy in Canterbury

Genesis Energy and joint venture partner FRV Australia have officially opened New Zealand’s biggest solar farm at Lauriston, on the Canterbury plains. More than 90,000 solar panels on the 93 hectare site are now generating up to 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity a year, or enough to power nearly 13,000 households. The $104 million, 63 megawatt (MW) solar farm, an hour’s drive from Christchurch, is the first to be developed by Genesis as part of its commitment to build up to 500 MW of solar capacity throughout New Zealand.

Genesis chief executive Malcolm Johns said at today’s opening the farm was an important milestone in delivering on the company’s long-term strategy, dubbed “Gen35′′. “For New Zealand to reach net zero 2050 the country’s energy must become 60% electric, 95% renewable and available 100% of the time,” Johns said..