A 15-hectare solar farm project designed to make New Plymouth Airport energy self-sufficient is ready for take off.
The first phase beginning next week will see 14,400 solar panels installed, generating up to 14,700 megawatt hours – or enough to power 2000 homes for a year.
Chief Executive David Scott said as well as making the airport self-sufficient in sustainable energy the solar farm would provide an added income stream via the sale of surplus power.
“It will also take more than 1500 tonnes of CO2 out of our atmosphere each year,” he said.
“The solar farm on farmland that New Plymouth Airport leases from NPDC will be a cost-effective and efficient power source with long-term benefits for the airport and the environment, and demonstrates our commitment to modern, eco-friendly facilities.”
Scott said the solar power facility would use the latest technologies that could be adapted to future developments in solar energy, withstand Taranaki’s changeable weather and be used with developing EV charging systems.
Article first published by Radio New Zealand