Lightsource bp Starts Building 168MW Solar Power Plant in NZ

Global solar developer Lightsource bp has officially commenced work on its Kōwhai Park solar power plant, a landmark 168MW project located in Christchurch, New Zealand. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 27, 2024, just weeks after the company successfully secured a significant NZ$267 million (US$162 million) financing package on August 15, 2024, paving the way for construction to begin.

Situated on land owned by Christchurch International Airport and Environment Canterbury, the Kōwhai Park facility represents a major step forward in the nation’s energy transition. The project, a key partnership with New Zealand retailer Contact Energy, will feature an array of approximately 300,000 solar modules. Once operational in 2026, it is projected to generate 290,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, sufficient to power around 36,000 homes, and will connect to the local Orion New Zealand 66kV distribution network.

The financial backing for this ambitious solar PV venture was provided by an international consortium of banks, including Westpac New Zealand, Mizuho, China Construction Bank, and Intesa Sanpaolo—IMICIB. Highlighting the collaborative effort, Adam Pegg, Managing Director of APAC at Lightsource bp, stated, “We’ve built strong partnerships with both Contact Energy and Christchurch Airport, and we’re proud to lead such an important and complex project for the region.” This sentiment was echoed by Will Sellars, Lightsource bp associate GC, who noted, “Kōwhai Park marks a significant milestone as our first project in New Zealand to reach this stage.”

The physical construction is being managed by engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor CHINTEC, with infrastructure service provider Ventia handling the grid connection. This solar PV project is the foundational element of the broader Kōwhai Park Ecosystem, an innovation hub planned for 400 hectares adjacent to the airport’s runways. This future-focused ecosystem aims to attract further investment in renewable technologies, including on-site liquid hydrogen production, EV charging infrastructure, vertical farming, and data centres, to accelerate regional decarbonisation.

Sources

1. NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST SOLAR POWER PLANT RECEIVES …
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