Somerton Solar Farm is a 30MW AC / 42MW DC solar energy development designed with future Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capability.
The project has secured a Power Purchase Agreement with Fonterra covering 80% of the facility’s generation output and has received grid connection approval from EA Networks. Construction is scheduled to commence in October 2026.
The resource consent application was notified on a limited basis to neighbouring properties. The project team proactively engaged with affected parties and agreed a landscape screening mitigation package.
Following this engagement, no submitters elected to be heard. Resource consent was subsequently granted with highly favourable consent conditions.
Native planting has been adopted in parts of the site where suitable. Engagement with Te Rūnanga O Arowhenua was also undertaken in relation to the planting scheme.
Somerton Solar Farm will provide a new source of clean electricity generation for Canterbury, helping to meet increasing regional electricity demand.
The project will also contribute to improving the diversity and resilience of the region’s energy supply, supported by its future BESS capability and long-term electricity offtake arrangement with Fonterra.
For more information about the project: ANZA Power
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