The solar farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power 54,600 homes. File picture. Photo: befunky.com
Gentailer Genesis Energy has announced plans to spend $487 million acquiring and developing a 271 megawatt solar farm near Rangiriri, Waikato.
- Genesis Energy to spend $437 million on Waikato solar farm
- Electricity generation to start 2029
Gentailer Genesis Energy has announced plans to spend $487 million acquiring and developing a 271 megawatt solar farm near Rangiriri, Waikato.
Once operational, the Rangiriri solar farm is expected to generate around 437 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually - enough to power approximately 54,600 homes.
Genesis is buying the site from solar farm developer PGP, complete with consents and connection approvals to the national grid.
Genesis head of renewable development Craig Brown said this removed risk, and the purchase was expected to be completed by the end of the year, subject to certain conditions.
Once completed, Rangiriri is planned to supply electricity to Genesis' 200 megawatt hour (MWh) battery, currently under construction at Huntly power station.
Genesis chief operating officer Tracey Hickman said the project represented another key step in the company's renewable strategy.
"It leverages the flexibility of our assets at Huntly Power Station, specifically our new grid-scale battery, in addition to making our hydro schemes more valuable as flexible, long-duration storage that balances intermittent solar generation and battery discharge."
Brown said Rangiriri was part of a wider strategy that reduced the burning of fossil fuels by Huntly power station, allowing it to focus on meeting peak demands, also knowing as "firming".
Genesis has been stockpiling coal this year after the country was hit by a "dry year" energy crunch in 2024 that sent electricity prices soaring.
It recently struck a deal with Contact, Meridian and Mercury to amass up to 600,000 tonnes of coal reserves so that Huntly can quickly respond to power shortages.
A final investment decision on Rangiriri is scheduled for mid-2027, with generation commencing in 2029.
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