Genesis is proposing to build a 220 megawatt (MWp) solar farm near Foxton.
The proposed solar farm will utilise the region’s abundant sunlight to generate renewable energy for businesses and households in New Zealand.
The project
The proposed solar farm will be located on a private rural site approximately 10km north of Foxton, within the Horowhenua District. The project is currently in the planning stages with environmental, technical and planning assessments underway alongside direct discussions with mana whenua, neighbours, and other stakeholders.
Designed to minimise its environmental impact, the proposed solar farm will consist of approximately 150,000 solar panels, will generate enough renewable energy to power around 43,000 homes and will connect to the existing 220kV overhead transmission line that crosses the property.
Bright prospects
Genesis says the proposed solar farm will contribute towards decarbonising the energy sector and is also anticipated to deliver significant socio-economic benefits to the region.
“Construction will create job opportunities – Genesis encourages all contractors working on its solar farm developments to hire local contractors and utilise lead suppliers wherever possible. It’s estimated that around 250 workers will be required to construct the project.
“Once the proposed solar farm is operational, 3 to 5 ongoing roles will be created including maintenance contracts for panel cleaning, fence repair, road grading, etc. and Genesis hopes to be able to source this work from local contractors.”
Genesis says the employment benefits extend through the local supply chain to fuel supply, vehicle servicing, accommodation, hospitality, cleaning companies, tradespeople, and tool and equipment suppliers.
Powering the future
“The proposed solar farm will likely utilise state of the art solar photovoltaic panels mounted on a horizontal, single-axis tracking system that enables the panels to track the sun. This technology operates in varying daylight conditions, including low light and cloudy weather and is extremely efficient for generating clean electricity with minimal noise and water consumption.”
The solar farm would consist of solar photovoltaic panels similar to those installed throughout New Zealand on residential and commercial properties.
The panels will be mounted on steel frames with a height maximum of 2.5 to 5.5 metres (depending on the technology used), supported by driven piles that will create minimal disturbance to the land. The design would allow sheep to graze in and around the solar panels once the solar farm is operational, meaning that the land would still be capable of contributing to the region’s agricultural industry.
The company says once complete, the proposed solar farm is expected to generate clean electricity for at least 35 years.