Christchurch Airport picks companions for its 150-MW solar project

• New Zealand's Christchurch Airport stated on Thursday that it has chosen local energy Contact Energy Limited (NZE: CEN) and also UK's Lightsource bp as its partners on a 150-MW/170-MWp solar project set behind the airport's runways.

The project is the first phase of the Airport's renewable resource precinct Kowhai Park, which in future phases will certainly likewise have a green hydrogen manufacturing system, Christchurch Airport claimed.

Contact Energy and Lightsource bp will certainly put up around 300,000 solar panels at a 300-hectare (741.3 acres) site behind the runways as part of phase one. When in operation, the solar farm will generate some 290 GWh annually and turn into one of the biggest such power plants in New Zealand, according to the Airport.

Christchurch Airport chief executive officer Justin Watson stated that zero and also reduced emission aircraft are nearby as well as Kowhai Park could aid decarbonise flights.

"Our goal is to guarantee Kowhai Park prepares to give the huge amount of green energy these new aircraft will need," Watson said.

Kowhai Park phase one is additionally the very first of a variety of planned projects ahead out of the joint venture between Contact Energy and also Lightsource bp. The two revealed their partnership in April 2022, aiming to establish grid-scale solar projects in New Zealand to produce 380 GWh annually by 2026.