Projects & Applications
New Zealand gives approval to 200 MWh solar-plus-storage project
A 179 MW solar-plus-storage project near Auckland has won approval from an independent panel, with a commercial decision now able to take place if the project remains viable in light of conditions applied to the build and operation.
By
Tristan Rayner
Oct 20, 2025
Grid-scale
Projects & Applications
Image: Glorit Solar
A 200 MWh solar plus storage farm planned for Glorit near Auckland, on the north island of New Zealand, has been granted resource consent and a notice of requirement by an independent panel.
The decision allows the solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) for the Glorit Solar Farm to proceed, with more than 100 conditions in place. The site will span 283 hectares of a 300-hectare site and include the solar modules, batteries, ancillary equipment, including power conversion units or PCUs, and a 33kV transmission line, and a new substation.
On the storage side, the application noted eight containerized lithium-ion battery storage modules located totalling 176 batteries, providing up to 100 MW of power for two hours.
Lightsource bp and Contact Energy developed the project in a 50/50 partnership with Transpower, and it has an expected lifespan of at least 35 years.
Decision process
A 195-page decision document emerged from the three-person panel a full 150 working days after the application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which managed the process.
At the time of application, on 22 November 2024, the applicants for the hybrid renewable site opted to seek referral from the Minister for the Environment to an expert consenting panel under New Zealand’s Natural and Built Environment Act 2023. That process has now been eliminated in New Zealand, replaced by a newer fast-track legislation.
Therefore, the final decision and conditions were not made by the EPA, with the decision resting with the panel, which is now cleared, and will become one of the largest renewable energy developments in the country.
Conditions
Many of the conditions are standard around noise, glint and glare, and traffic plans for surrounding roads, and relate to the 290,000 solar modules and potential impacts on wildlife. Included in the conditions are a ‘Avifauna Management Plan’ to protect wildlife including 13.9 hectares of retained roosting habitat.
For the storage component, the main conditions relate to the implementation of a Battery Storage Safety Management Plan (BSSMP). This includes considerable efforts to reduce potential fire risks, including on-site water storage facilities. In addition, the battery containers must have a “’Light Reflectivity Value’ rating below 10%, and be green, brown, or grey in tone.”
The solar park now awaits a final commercial investment decision from the joint venture, which originally listed a construction date for mid-2025.
Once constructed, energized, and operational, it’s expected to generate enough electricity to power around 33,000 homes each year.
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