New Zealand-based developer Far North Solar Farm (FNSF) has been granted resource consent to build a 41MW solar farm in the country, near Marton.
The Marton solar farm resource consent was issued by Rangitikei District Council.
The 38-hectare development brings the company’s total of consented solar farms in New Zealand to five, with the first in Pukenui already under construction and a second in Edgecumbe to follow later this year.
The two other consented farms are in Waiotahe and Foxton.
FNSF director Richard Homewood said the company is already talking with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies and is also exploring options to build the Marton solar farm, with construction planned for Q3 this year.
“The Marton solar farm is the first in our second tranche of developments to receive resource consent and we have three active applications currently in play for several other large sites, including a 420MWp project in the Mackenzie Basin, with other farm locations soon to also be submitted,” Homewood said.
Combined, the company’s national development portfolio of 11 sites will equate to 1.4 GW once completed – 14.3% of New Zealand’s current total operational electricity production capacity, which was 9.79GW in 2022 (MBIE).
The portfolio is being developed in partnership with Aquila Clean Energy Asia Pacific and funded through a combination of equity and debt financing.
Homeward added: “Our objective in 2024 is to keep working with host communities and decision makers to ensure the full benefits of responsible solar development are recognised and embraced.
“We’re confident as a company we’re on the right track to help advance the country’s push to transition to an electricity market that’s 100% renewables.”