Argyle Solar Farm

kowhai park solar farm | CB | 1200x480

Contact Energy’s Argyle Solar Farm project is a proposed development across two sites:

Southern area (site 1)

A ~28MW (consented) and proposes the installation of approximately 60,000 solar panels on land adjacent to our existing Argyle Power Station, which is part of our Branch River Hydro-electric Power Scheme.

Northern Area (Site 2)

A ~37MW (consented) and proposes the installation of approximately 75,000 solar panels on land adjacent to the Wairau Power Station, also part of our Branch River Hydro-electric Power Scheme.

The proposed sites for construction contain no significant ecological features such as wetlands or indigenous vegetation and are set well back from the nearby state highway. The project will have a very low environmental and visual impact, and we will be carrying out screen planting around the sites to further reduce visual impact.

If completed, it is expected the solar farm would generate enough electricity to power up to 17,000 average Kiwi homes.

The details:

  • Location: Wairau Valley, Marlborough
  • Max capacity: 65 MW (estimate)
  • Annual generation: 130 GWh p.a. (estimate)
  • Energy type: Solar (135,000 panels)
  • Land size: 174 ha
  • Status: Project engineering and design 

More about us

About Contact

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Sustainability

We're committed to preserving natural resources for future generations of Kiwis, maintaining balance every day. 

Our projects

We've always got courageous and clever projects on the go to help generate renewable energy and manage our long-term impacts.

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