Kōwhai Park Solar Farm Reaches ‘Golden Row' Milestone, Marking Major Step In Delivery
The project is being delivered through a partnership between Lightsource bp and Contact Energy, in collaboration with Christchurch Airport. The solar farm is being constructed on a 230-hectare site at the airport, aligning with the airports broader ambitions …
Christchurch, New Zealand, 4 August 2025: Construction of one of New Zealand's largest solar projects has reached a major milestone, with the installation of the first row of solar panels – known in the industry as the 'Golden Row' – now complete at Kōwhai Park solar farm.
The project is being delivered through a partnership between Lightsource bp and Contact Energy, in collaboration with Christchurch Airport. The solar farm is being constructed on a 230-hectare site at the airport, aligning with the airport's broader ambitions to enable a renewable energy precinct and support New Zealand's decarbonisation goals.
Installation of the first panels marks an important moment in the delivery of the 168MWdc solar farm, as the Golden Row milestone represents both the full installation and quality assurance of the first row of solar panels. With the process now validated and signed off, construction can safely and efficiently scale up – repeating this process thousands of times across the site. Once complete, the solar farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of more than 36,000 homes.
Kōwhai Park reflects the shared commitment of all three partners to enable a more sustainable future for New Zealand. With their first project together in the country, Lightsource bp and Contact Energy are combining their global and local expertise to bring new large-scale renewables capacity online, helping accelerate the energy transition.
'The solar farm brings our vision to life, using airport land in new ways to support a low-emissions future for our region. We're excited to hit this milestone, which marks another step towards a cleaner energy future reflecting the strength of the partnership driving it,' said Justin Watson Christchurch Airport CEO.
'We're thrilled to see the progress at Kōwhai Park – the first solar farm as part of our joint venture partnership. It demonstrates the impact that can be achieved through effective, strategic collaboration in advancing New Zealand's renewable energy future,' said Mike Fuge, Contact Energy CEO.
Adam Pegg, Chief Operating Officer for Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Lightsource bp, commented: 'This is a significant moment for our team and our partners. We're proud to be working with Contact Energy and Christchurch Airport to bring this project to life. It's a great example of what can be achieved when industry leaders come together with a shared focus on delivering practical, long-term solutions for decarbonisation.'
Engagement with the local community and wider stakeholders remains a priority as the project progresses, with a focus on ensuring the development delivers lasting economic and environmental value for the region.
About Lightsource bp
Lightsource bp is a leading developer and manager of global utility-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions. Our purpose is to deliver affordable and sustainable power for businesses and communities around the world. Our team includes over 1,200 industry specialists, working across 19 global markets. We provide full scope development for our projects, from initial site selection, financing and permitting through to long-term management of projects and power sales to our clients.
Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024. Read more here.
About Contact Energy
Contact Energy is one of New Zealand's largest energy generators and retailers. We have more than 645,000 customer connections with electricity, gas, broadband and mobile plans. We operate 11 power stations across New Zealand, using geothermal, hydro and thermal energy to generate electricity. Contact is building renewable energy at pace, investing $2.3billion into renewable energy projects over the past four years, including three new geothermal power stations, a grid-scale battery and solar farm.
About Christchurch Airport
About Christchurch Airport: Christchurch Airport is the main gateway to the South Island of New Zealand, serving as a hub for both domestic and international flights. The airport is committed to delivering world-class services, enhancing the region's connectivity, and fulfilling the economic prosperity of New Zealand.
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