FRV Australia has announced progress on the development of the Rangitīkei solar project, a 210 MWdc photovoltaic facility located on New Zealand’s North Island.
Information on the Rangitīkei Solar Project
The solar plant will be built on an area of approximately 450 hectares in the Rangitīkei district and will generate around 350,000 MWh per year, enough energy to supply around 45,000 households. In addition, it is estimated that it will prevent the emission of around 35,000 tons of CO₂ annually, thus supporting the goals of decarbonization decarbonization goals.
During the construction phase, it is estimated that the project will reach a peak of 250 jobs, with an average of 75 active workers during the estimated 24 months of construction. In addition, the design contemplates the possibility of incorporating battery storage (BESS), which would increase operational flexibility and strengthen the resilience of the power grid in the area.
Relationship with Genesis Energy
The announcement of the Rangitīkei project coincides with the completion of the formal partnership between FRV Australia and Genesis Energy, a collaboration that allowed FRV to enter the local market and accelerate the deployment of its first projects. The two companies will, however, maintain their link through the Lauriston solar farmsolar farm in Canterbury, currently the largest in the country.
Why is this news important?
This announcement is part of New Zealand’s effort to have a decarbonized economy and rely less on fossil fuels. In addition, this project will be of significant size with a real impact on clean electricity generation and emissions reduction in the country.
Source: FRV
