- Genesis Energy and FRV have commissioned the 63MWp Lauriston Solar Farm near Christchurch, making it the largest operational solar farm in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
- The Lauriston Solar Farm features nearly 90,000 solar panels capable of producing up to 100 GWh of electricity annually.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has officially commissioned the 63MWp Lauriston Solar Farm, Aotearoa, New Zealand’s largest operational solar farm. On May 8, 2025, FRV unveiled the new facility, a joint venture between FRV and Genesis Energy.
The Lauriston Solar Farm features nearly 90,000 solar panels capable of producing up to 100 GWh of electricity annually. The farm is located on a 93-hectare site in Canterbury, near Christchurch. It marks a significant milestone in New Zealand’s transition to renewable energy.
Genesis Energy, which co-developed the project, also acts as the off-taker under a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA). “To achieve our climate goals, we must transform our energy mix towards renewable sources,” said Genesis Energy CEO Malcolm Johns. “Lauriston Solar Farm represents a significant step in this direction, showcasing the power of strategic partnerships in the energy transition.”
Melbourne-based Beon Energy Solutions handled the engineering, procurement, and construction, starting work on the project in April 2024.
Despite its scale, Lauriston will soon face competition for the top spot. The joint venture of Genesis Energy and FRV, known as SolarGen, has already submitted plans for a much larger 180MWp solar farm in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. Dubbed the Foxton Solar Farm, the project awaits approval from New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
The Lauriston and Foxton projects form part of SolarGen’s 500MW national portfolio, aiming to deliver across New Zealand. Meanwhile, a joint venture between British company Harmony Energy and New Zealand-based First Renewables is constructing the 202MWp Tauhei Solar Farm in Waikato.
Last month, Energy Minister Simon Watts attended a soil-turning ceremony to mark the project’s ceremonial start. The Tauhei farm will sell all its electricity to Meridian Energy under a 10-year PPA signed in January 2025. The site, which includes 330,000 solar panels, will also restore a wetland and feature the planting of 100,000 native plants.
“We are pleased to have reached this major milestone in a project that heralds a significant step forward in New Zealand’s pursuit of providing cleaner, home-grown energy,” said James Irvine, General Manager at Clarus, the parent company of First Renewables. “At the time of commissioning, it is expected to be New Zealand’s largest solar farm at 202MWp.”
International developer Lightsource BP is also in the race. In late 2024, it began building a 168MWp solar farm at Christchurch Airport. The firm partnered with Contact Energy and secured financing from banks, including Westpac NZ and China Construction Bank. Lightsource BP targets a 2026 start for commercial operations, potentially overtaking others if it finishes ahead of Tauhei.
In a separate initiative, Meridian is pushing forward with the Ruakākā Solar Project near Whangārei, pairing 130MW of solar with a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS). Construction of the BESS is underway, while solar panel installation will begin in August 2025, with completion expected by early 2027.
UK-based Ethical Power recently secured contracts for construction and maintenance. The project’s total cost is estimated at NZ$227 million.
New Zealand’s solar energy landscape is expanding rapidly, with multiple large-scale projects poised to reshape the country’s power grid and help meet its net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050.