Hawke’s Bay Airport Limited’s proposed solar farm has reached an important milestone, with an Expression of Interest (EOI) process now open for delivery and co-investment partners.
Hawke’s Bay Airport CEO Nick Flack says the project would establish an important infrastructure foundation for an aviation future expected to rely more heavily on renewable electricity – as much as 20 times greater than it is today by 2050.
“The solar farm will enable the airport and the region’s sustainable growth and ensure we can continue to serve the changing needs of airlines flying people in and out of our region. And in the meantime, it will support our region’s transition to a more resilient energy future,” Mr Flack says.
A 12-17MW solar farm is proposed to be built on a 24-hectare parcel of airport land northwest of the runways, with estimated generation capability equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 3,000 Hawke’s Bay households.
“We want to acknowledge the constructive input and ongoing engagement we’ve received from a number of local stakeholders, including Mana Ahuriri Trust, Unison and other regional entities,” says Mr Flack.
The EOI announcement follows an earlier mutual decision by Hawke’s Bay Airport and Manawa Energy, now owned by Contact Energy, not to pursue a much larger 45MW solar development.
Mr Flack says infrastructure projects of this nature often go through several iterations as feasibility, commercial viability, technical requirements and business priorities are tested.
“After exploring the options with Manawa, both parties agreed the best path forward was for the airport to continue developing plans for a smaller, fit-for-purpose solar farm that better aligns with our long-term requirements,” he says.
Mr Flack says while no final investment decision has been made, feasibility work supports progressing the project to the EOI stage to inform the airport’s preferred delivery, ownership and investment model. This work will happen over the next 12 months, alongside consenting, engineering, cultural and community engagement workstreams.
“An important part of this next phase is understanding the market’s appetite and capability, including construction delivery, operations and maintenance, and potential co-investment options,” he says.
Parties interested in the EOI for project delivery and investment, along with members of the public seeking further information, can find out more here.
Image: Representative impression of the Hawke’s Bay Airport solar farm, subject to cultural, aeronautical and environmental consents and feasibility.