The final solar panel has been installed at the 150 MW Kōwhai Park solar farm in New Zealand, marking the completion of the project’s primary construction phase and moving it closer to commercial operation.
Located on land leased from Christchurch Airport, the utility-scale solar project is being developed through a partnership between Contact Energy and Lightsource bp. The milestone signals the transition from construction activities to testing and commissioning ahead of the facility’s grid connection and full-scale electricity generation.
Once operational, the solar farm is expected to generate approximately 275 GWh of renewable electricity annually, enough to power around 36,000 homes. Electricity produced by the project will be supplied through Orion’s distribution network, supporting the region’s growing demand for clean energy.
Kōwhai Park is among the largest solar developments currently under construction in New Zealand and forms part of broader efforts to expand the country’s renewable energy capacity. The project is expected to contribute to New Zealand’s decarbonisation goals by increasing the share of solar power in a generation mix traditionally dominated by hydroelectric and geothermal resources.
The solar farm also aligns with Christchurch Airport’s long-term sustainability strategy, which aims to support renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions across its operations and surrounding infrastructure.
Contact Energy and Lightsource bp said the project represents an important step in their efforts to accelerate utility-scale solar deployment across New Zealand. The companies continue to advance additional renewable energy projects to help meet future electricity demand and strengthen the country’s energy transition.
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