New Zealand government-owned Genesis Vitality and renewables associate FRV Australia have bought a sophisticated 52 MW agrivoltaic photo voltaic challenge in New Zealand’s South Island. If the challenge reaches its 2024 operational goal as anticipated, will probably be the primary utility-scale photo voltaic farm within the nation.
from Australia’s pv journal
New Zealand government-owned Genesis Vitality and renewables developer FRV Australia have introduced plans for a 52 MW photo voltaic farm close to Lauriston, within the South Island. The set up is the primary large-scale photo voltaic farm within the nation.
The 90-hectare Lauriston photo voltaic farm, purchased from UK developer Hive Vitality, already has superior grid-connection approvals, with the corporate saying it’s prepared for panel set up to start in 2023. The challenge will maintain roughly 80,000 photo voltaic panels and is ready to generate 80 GWh per yr. Farm sheep grazing can be reintroduced to the world when the challenge is accomplished in 2024.
Photo voltaic in continues to be very a lot in its infancy within the nation, which will get most of its renewables from geothermal, wind and hydroelectric crops. These sources account for almost 80% of the nation’s electrical energy, and 40% of its whole vitality use.
Whereas New Zealand has but to place a utility-scale photo voltaic farm into operation, there are a number of new bulletins for growth tasks, together with plans for a 400 MW photo voltaic farm from Todd Era , and a 147 MW photo voltaic farm from UK-based Concord Vitality, each within the nation’s North Island. Likewise, Lightsource bp and German funding supervisor Aquila Capital need to develop portfolios in New Zealand.
“There have been a whole lot of bulletins in the course of the day,” mentioned Tracey Hickman, interim chief government of Genesis. “However not many have the land, consent and grid connection in place.”
It’s for its expertise in growing utility-scale photo voltaic tasks that Genesis Vitality has partnered with FRV Australia, the antipodean arm of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, owned by Abdul Latif Jameel Vitality of Saudi Arabia since 2015. The FRV Australia arm is now collectively owned by Abdul Latif Jameel Vitality and Canada’s Omers Infrastructure.#
The three way partnership was introduced in 2021 and noticed Genesis Vitality take a 60% stake whereas FRV Australia managed the remaining 40%. Having delivered a reported 800 MW of photo voltaic tasks, together with roughly 250 MW underneath development, FRV Australia mentioned on the time that it was able to increase regional actions into the New Zealand market. .
Collectively, the pair plan to ship 500 MW of photo voltaic capability in New Zealand over the subsequent 5 years.
“FRV Australia and Genesis have developed a wonderful pipeline of photo voltaic tasks which might be anticipated to be delivered within the coming years,” mentioned Carlo Frigerio, managing director of FRV Australia. “The Lauriston photo voltaic farm enhances our personal pipeline and is poised to develop into the primary large-scale photo voltaic farm to achieve operational stage within the nation.”
Extra broadly, the Lauriston photo voltaic farm is a part of a program from Genesis Vitality that goals to displace 2,650 GWh of thermal technology with new renewable energy by 2030.
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