Contact Energy opens South Island’s biggest solar farm at Christchurch Airport
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon officially opened Kōwhai Park, a $273 million solar farm expected to generate enough renewable energy annually for 36,000 homes.
What happened
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon officially opened Kōwhai Park, South Island's largest solar farm, at Christchurch Airport on Thursday. Developed by Contact Energy and Lightsource bp as a joint venture, the $273 million farm is expected to generate 275GWh of renewable energy annually — enough to power about 36,000 average New Zealand homes. The farm comprises around 300,000 solar panels across 230 hectares. Synlait, a Canterbury-based dairy company, will purchase 25% of the electricity generated under a long-term power purchase agreement to power its Dunsandel and Dairyworks plants. Christchurch Airport will also source electricity from the farm. The project employed 235 people at peak construction, with 66 Canterbury businesses involved in building it. Contact Energy chief executive Mike Fuge said the farm demonstrates New Zealand's renewable energy advantage and the opportunity to strengthen energy security through large-scale generation.
Key facts
- $273 million investment in the solar farm
- 275GWh annual electricity generation, enough for 36,000 homes
- Around 300,000 solar panels across 230 hectares
- Synlait to purchase 25% of electricity generated
- 235 people employed at peak construction, 66 Canterbury businesses involved
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What outlets are saying
NZ Herald
Contact Energy opens South Island’s biggest solar farm at Christchurch Airport
Synlait will buy 25% of the electricity for its Dunsandel and Dairyworks sites.