FRV gets cracking on huge pipeline of big solar in land of long white cloud

Plans to roll out half a gigawatt of solar farms in New Zealand in a joint venture between the Australian arm of Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and local utility Genesis Energy will kick off with a 52MW project near Christchurch.

Saudi-backed FRV Australia and NZX-listed Genesis said on Tuesday that they had acquired the “fully consented” Lauriston solar farm from UK-based Hive Energy, with construction on the project expected to begin later this year.

FRV Australia CEO Carlo Frigerio says this puts the solar farm in the running to become the first truly large-scale project of to reach operational stage in New Zealand – and the biggest of a number of projects currently being developed.

Currently, the largest existing solar farm in Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud) remains the 2.1 MW Kapuni plant in Taranaki, operated by Nova Energy.

Elsewhere, NZ developer Lodestone Energy has started early works on the 39.4MW Kaitaia solar farm being built in the far north of the North Island.

Nova is also working up plans to establish a 400MW PV project on the North Island, while NZ’s Contact Energy is developing its own large-scale solar portfolio in partnership with Lightsource bp.

The Australian arm of FRV – which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Latif Jameel Energy – was announced in late 2021 as the winner of the competitive tender to develop the 500MW solar pipeline in NZ with Genesis.

Genesis, which has an existing generation portfolio of hydro, wind, geothermal and coal and gas plants, said at the time that FRV Australia would hold a 40% stake in the NZ solar assets.

For Genesis, the largest electricity and natural gas retailer in NZ and 51% owned by the government, the 52MW Lauriston project is part of plans to displace its 2,650GWh of baseload thermal generation with new renewables.

Ultimately, that will most likely include the Huntly Power Station, the largest fossil fuel-based generator in NZ, which combines three 250MW coal-and-gas-fired steam turbine units, a 50MW gas peaking plant, and a 403MW combined cycle gas turbine plant.

Previously, Genesis and FRV Australia have suggested most of the 500MW of solar capacity they are planning to roll out will be built on New Zealand’s North Island.

The Lauriston solar farm, however, is located about one hour’s drive south of Christchurch on Aotearoa’s South Island.

FRV Australia CEO, Carlo Frigerio, says the site ticked a lot of boxes and the solar farm will be up and running quickly.

“Lauriston solar farm is posed to be the first large scale solar farm reaching operational stage in the country,” Frigerio said.

Genesis interim CEO Tracey Hickman says solar is a good addition to New Zealand’s generation mix.

“When it reaches scale it will play an important role in helping manage dry year risk when hydro levels are low and the wind doesn’t blow,” she said.