Picture: Christchurch Airport
From pv journal Australia
Christchurch Airport has chosen Lightsource bp – an fairness three way partnership between UK-based photo voltaic specialist Lightsource and oil big BP – and New Zealand’s Contract Power as its companions to assist develop the primary 150 MW part within the deliberate Kōwhai Park renewable vitality precinct.
The primary part of the park will initially include a 150 MW photo voltaic farm able to producing 290 GWh of fresh vitality per yr that can be used to assist the aviation trade transition from fossil fuels. Battery vitality storage and the era of inexperienced hydrogen are additionally earmarked for the precinct’s future, with Christchurch Airport looking for to speed up the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s trade.
“It begins with the photo voltaic farm however we’re working to incorporate inexperienced hydrogen era alongside the best way,” mentioned Christchurch Airport Chief Govt Officer Justin Watson. “Kowhai Park will allow low-emissions aviation and assist present the extra inexperienced vitality New Zealand wants to maneuver away from fossil fuels. We’re excited to seek out companions with the technical capabilities to do it effectively and the values to verify it is performed proper.
The photo voltaic farm, consisting of roughly 300,000 photo voltaic panels, can be constructed on a 300 hectare website adjoining to the runways of Christchurch airport. The placement is near the community of electrical energy distributor Orion and the traces of grid operator Transpower.
Topic to the ultimate funding resolution, building of the photo voltaic farm is predicted to start in 2024. The Kōwhai Park mission is Lightsource bp’s first in New Zealand, however it will not be the final.
To proceed studying, please go to our Australia’s pv journal web site.
This content material is protected by copyright and will not be reused. If you wish to cooperate with us and wish to reuse a few of our content material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
