KÅwhai Park Solar Farm
| KÅwhai Park Solar Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Christchurch Airport |
| Coordinates | 43°29â²45â³S 172°30â²38â³E / 43.49583°S 172.51056°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Construction began | August 2024 |
| Commission date | 15 October 2026 |
| Construction cost | NZ$300 million |
| Owner | Contact Energy Lightsource BP |
| Operator | Contact Energy Lightsource BP |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Site area | 300 ha |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 150 MW (168 MWp)[1] |
| Annual net output | 290 GWh[2] |
The KÅwhai Park Solar Farm is a photovoltaic power station at Christchurch Airport in Canterbury, New Zealand. The farm is owned by a joint venture between Contact Energy and Lightsource BP.[3] The farm covers 300 hectares[4] and generates 150Â MW of electricity.[5]
The solar farm takes its name from a century-old Kowhai that is located in the middle of the farm.[6]
Development
[edit]The project was first announced in December 2021.[7][8] In February 2023, Christchurch Airport announced Contact Energy and Lightsource as its partners to develop and operate the solar farm.[9] Finance was agreed in August 2024,[3] and construction began the same month.[4] The first row of panels was installed in August 2025.[10]
The solar farm was expected to be operational by mid 2026,[11] however, it officially opened in October 2026.[12]
Users
[edit]Synlait will purchase 25% of the electricity generated to power its Dunsandel and Dairyworks sites.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- â "KÅwhai Park Solar Farm". Contact Energy. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- â "KÅwhai Park - A new concept in renewable energy". Christchurch Airport. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- 1 2 "Christchurch Airport solar project: Contact Energy pushes 'go'". New Zealand Herald. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- 1 2 "Building begins on NZ's largest solar farm next to Christchurch Airport". RNZ. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- â "KÅwhai Park - Answers to our most frequently asked questions". Christchurch Airport. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- â "Business Scoop » Net Zero 2050 â Christchurch Airport Announces 'Innovative And World-leading' Renewable Energy Park". business.scoop.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
- â Liz McDonald (1 December 2021). "Solar plant powering 30,000 homes to be built at Christchurch Airport". Stuff. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- â "New KÅwhai Park at Christchurch Airport to generate renewable energy". RNZ. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- â "Christchurch Airport signs up partners to build KÅwhai Park solar farm". RNZ. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- â "KÅwhai Park Solar Farm Reaches 'Golden Row' Milestone, Marking Major Step In Delivery". Scoop. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- â Tina Law (25 November 2025). "Christchurch's 'Mona Lisa' preserved amid sea of solar panels". The Press. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- â "Contact Energy opens South Island's biggest solar farm at Christchurch Airport". New Zealand Herald. 15 October 2026. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
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