Latest news with #HarmonyEnergy
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Another Canty solar farm on cards
Genesis is on track to make a final investment decision midway into next year to spend $110 million on building another large solar farm in Canterbury. The planned venture in Leeston would have 74,400 solar panels over 111ha. This follows the power company launching a $104m solar farm with peak generation of 63MWp (Megawatt peak) at Lauriston, also in Canterbury, in a joint venture with FRV Australia last April. More than 90,000 solar panels on the 93ha site are now generating up to 100GWh (Gigawatt hours) of electricity a year, enough to power nearly 13,000 households. Leeston would potentially start generating 67MWp, up to 110GWh/pa in 2017. This could become the company's third-largest solar farm behind proposals to also build more sites at Foxton (80MWp) and Edgecumbe (127MWp). Genesis said Leeston could be built before the other two sites and all three of them were pending final investment decisions. Unlike Lauriston, the power company plans to make the full investment in developing Leeston without FRV Australia. Farmland would be leased for the project. Chief operating officer Tracey Hickman said consents were in place for the project with designs progressing towards the final investment decision stage. She said the project could be expected to serve the power needs of 15,700 households. Genesis was committed to scaling up its solar generation, she said. "To meet New Zealand's net zero 2050 target, 95% of electricity generation must come from renewable sources, up from 85% today. "Solar is a good addition to New Zealand's generation mix and when it reaches scale it will play an important role in helping manage supply when hydro levels are low and the wind doesn't blow at windfarms." She said the company's Gen35 strategy included a target to build 500MW of solar capacity throughout New Zealand. "The Leeston site will be another step toward achieving that. "Solar is also the perfect partner to the grid-scale battery we're installing at Huntly Power Station. "We'll be able to store the equivalent energy generated by our solar farms during the day, and release it at night when demand is high." The Lauriston site is proving to be a successful solar farm and the company appreciated the community support during its construction, she said. "We're excited to progress the Leeston site and others we have in our pipeline around the country." Genesis was continuing to make progress on the Edgecumbe development, lining up early engineering and main contracts as it headed toward a final investment decision later this year. The solar farm has a targeted operational date of early to mid 2027. The company's solar farm site in Foxton, near Palmerston North was accepted for inclusion under the Fast-track Approvals Act and would be presented for approval once due diligence was completed. Many more solar farms throughout the country are on the drawing board, including Waikato's proposed Tauhei Solar Farm, near Te Aroha, between UK's Harmony Energy and First Renewables Ltd, of 202MWp. Far North Solar Farm Ltd has applied for a land use consent from Hurunui District Council to build a 181ha site in North Canterbury's Waipara. Submissions will be accepted by residents until July 24 for the publicly notified proposal to put in 250,000 panels generating up to 145MWp, enough to power about 30,000 homes. Further proposals by the company have included a 450MWp solar development on 670ha near Lake Benmore. Among others, Helios Energy had put plans on hold to consider community feedback for 560,000 solar panels with the potential to power up to 70,000 homes at a solar farm between Naseby and Ranfurly in Central Otago on 660ha.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Another solar farm likely for Canterbury
Genesis is on track to make a final investment decision in the middle of next year to spend $110 million on building another large solar farm in Canterbury. The planned venture in Leeston would have 74,400 solar panels over 111ha. This follows the power company launching a $104m solar farm with peak generation of 63 megawatts (MWp) at Lauriston, also in Canterbury, in a joint venture with FRV Australia last April. More than 90,000 solar panels on the 93ha site are now generating up to 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity a year, enough to power nearly 13,000 households. Leeston would potentially start generating 67MWp, up to 110GWh/pa in 2027. This could become the company's third-largest solar farm behind proposals to also build more sites at Foxton (80MWp) and Edgecumbe (127MWp). Genesis said Leeston could be built before the other two sites and all three of them are pending final investment decisions. Unlike Lauriston, the power company plans to make the full investment in developing Leeston without FRV Australia. Farmland would be leased for the project. Chief operating officer Tracey Hickman said consents were in place for the project with designs progressing towards the final investment decision stage. She said the project could be expected to serve the power needs of 15,700 households. Genesis was committed to scaling up its solar generation, she said. "To meet New Zealand's net zero 2050 target, 95% of electricity generation must come from renewable sources, up from 85% today. "Solar is a good addition to New Zealand's generation mix and when it reaches scale it will play an important role in helping manage supply when hydro levels are low and the wind doesn't blow at windfarms." She said the company's Gen35 strategy included a target to build 500MW of solar capacity throughout New Zealand. "The Leeston site will be another step towards achieving that. "Solar is also the perfect partner to the grid-scale battery we're installing at Huntly Power Station. "We'll be able to store the equivalent energy generated by our solar farms during the day and release it at night when demand is high." The Lauriston site is proving to be a successful solar farm, and the company appreciated the community support during its construction, she said. "We're excited to progress the Leeston site and others we have in our pipeline around the country." Genesis was continuing to make progress on the Edgecumbe development, lining up early engineering and main contracts as it headed towards a final investment decision later this year. The solar farm has a targeted operational date of early to mid 2027. The company's solar farm site in Foxton, near Palmerston North was accepted for inclusion under the Fast Track Approvals Act and would be presented for approval once due diligence was completed. Many more solar farms throughout the country are on the drawing board, including Waikato's proposed Tauhei Solar Farm, near Te Aroha, between UK's Harmony Energy and First Renewables Limited of 202MWp. Far North Solar Farm Limited has applied for a land use consent from Hurunui District Council to build a 181ha site in North Canterbury's Waipara. Submissions will be accepted by residents until July 24 for the publicly notified proposal to put in 250,000 panels generating up to 145MWp, enough to power about 30,000 homes. Further proposals by the company have included a 450MWp solar development on 670ha near Lake Benmore. Among others, Helios Energy had put plans on hold to consider community feedback for 560,000 solar panels with the potential to power up to 70,000 homes at a solar farm between Naseby and Ranfurly in Central Otago on 660ha.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Battery plant on farmland gets go-ahead
Proposals to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) on farmland in West Yorkshire have been approved. The application by Harmony Energy to install the facility at a six acre (2.5 hectare) site off Holmfield Lane, near Castleford, was given the go-ahead by Wakefield Council. The 36 energy storage unit BESS would take in power from renewable sources and release them to the National Grid when demand was high, the applicants said. A total of 49 residents objected to the scheme, citing concerns about traffic hazards along the lane, fire risks and the impact on local wildlife. The site was originally designated as greenbelt land under Wakefield Council's Local Plan, which was adopted in January 2024. However, it was later deemed to be "grey belt" land after the government published a revised national policy framework in December. A planning statement submitted by the energy company said the benefits brought by the scheme would outweigh any harm, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. It said the A1(M) and M62 motorways already dominated the openness of the greenbelt near Castleford. Harmony said this type of scheme was a "vital component in the drive towards zero carbon". "This type of technology has an important role to play across the National Grid, and at a local level in Wakefield's own target to achieve zero carbon by 2038," it stated. West Yorkshire Fire Service called for the scheme to be designed in accordance with National Fire Chiefs Council guidelines for BESS facilities. Proposals for a BESS facility less than half a mile away, off Stranglands Lane, next to the former Ferrybridge Power Station, were also approved last week. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Green light for battery energy storage system Is greenbelt at more risk from move to protect it? Wakefield Council
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Battery plant on Castleford farmland gets go-ahead
Proposals to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) on farmland in West Yorkshire have been application by Harmony Energy to install the facility at a six acre (2.5 hectare) site off Holmfield Lane, near Castleford, was given the go-ahead by Wakefield 36 energy storage unit BESS would take in power from renewable sources and release them to the National Grid when demand was high, the applicants said.A total of 49 residents objected to the scheme, citing concerns about traffic hazards along the lane, fire risks and the impact on local wildlife. The site was originally designated as greenbelt land under Wakefield Council's Local Plan, which was adopted in January it was later deemed to be "grey belt" land after the government published a revised national policy framework in December. 'Important role' A planning statement submitted by the energy company said the benefits brought by the scheme would outweigh any harm, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said the A1(M) and M62 motorways already dominated the openness of the greenbelt near said this type of scheme was a "vital component in the drive towards zero carbon"."This type of technology has an important role to play across the National Grid, and at a local level in Wakefield's own target to achieve zero carbon by 2038," it Yorkshire Fire Service called for the scheme to be designed in accordance with National Fire Chiefs Council guidelines for BESS for a BESS facility less than half a mile away, off Stranglands Lane, next to the former Ferrybridge Power Station, were also approved last week. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
UK takeover panel cancels Harmony Energy auction
May 20 (Reuters) - UK's takeover panel on Tuesday cancelled an auction to conclude the sale of Harmony Energy Income Trust (HEIT.L), opens new tab, set to take place on May 21, after Drax (DRX.L), opens new tab, one of the bidders, decided against raising its offer. The panel had decided on a bidding process following proposals last month from two funds managed by British investment manager Foresight Group LLP, valuing Harmony at around 209.9 million pounds ($278.12 million), which surpassed Drax's 199.9 million pounds bid.
