Ethical Power, KeaX win nod to add 65 MW of solar in New Zealand

UK renewables firm Ethical Power and its New Zealand-based partner KeaX Ltd have secured planning approval to build a 65-MW solar park in New Zealand.

The consent was awarded by the Selwyn District Council, Ehitcal Power said on Tuesday.

The Buckleys Road solar park is set to be installed on land currently used for cattle grazing in the Selwyn District of central Canterbury, on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island. Planned to cover 104 ha, the complex will be capable of producing around 100 GWh of green electricity per year. It will be equipped with 140,000 single axis tracking modules and 13 inverters, as well as an integrated battery energy storage system (BESS).

Once the solar-storage site enters operations, the land will be used mainly for sheep grazing. The solar generation is seen to contribute to achieving New Zealand’s goal for 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

Ethical Power stepped in New Zealand in 2021 through the HES Aotearoa joint venture with Hive Energy and Solar South-West.

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