Planned solar array, battery farm could power 10,000 homes

Surroundings Canterbury has obtained a useful resource consent utility from JDE Forbes & Euston Avenue Trustees Ltd for a photo voltaic array and battery farm on Waipara Flat Highway, close to Waipara, north of Amberley.

The photo voltaic array will take up 76ha, with sheep grazing across the 81,000 photo voltaic panels.

The proposed battery farm has obtained a blended response on social media, with some residents already opposing a proposed photo voltaic farm on the identical highway.

The applicant plans to ascertain ground-mounted photovoltaic items and related buildings to function an vitality era facility, together with medium voltage items and a battery vitality storage system for the storage of energy generated by photo voltaic panels.

It could produce sufficient energy for 10,000 households. No determination has been made on whether or not the consent will probably be notified, have restricted notification or be non-notified.

In the meantime, a proposed 181ha photo voltaic farm, additionally on Waipara Flat Highway, is making its method via the consent course of.

ECan granted useful resource consents to Farm North Photo voltaic Farm Ltd in October, whereas the Hurunui District Council is planning a listening to in Might.

A complete of 158 submissions have been obtained, with 125 against the photo voltaic farm.

By David Hill, Native Democracy Reporter