Kōwhai Park Solar Farm

Christchurch International Airport Limited, in partnership with Contact Energy and Lightsource bp, is developing Kōwhai Park – beginning with a 300-hectare solar farm designed to generate up to 168 MWp of electricity. This is enough to power around 36,000 New Zealand homes and will play a key role in decarbonising aviation by supporting future zero- and low-emission flights.PDP provided a range of environmental and technical assessments to help bring this large-scale renewable project to life. Our work included several detailed contaminated land investigations, incorporating historical land use reviews and soil sampling to assess potential site risks. We also undertook a comprehensive water resources assessment to understand how changes in rainfall infiltration from the solar park could affect groundwater quality, recharge rates, and local abstractions. In addition, our air quality specialists carried out a dust impact assessment and developed a Dust Management and Monitoring Plan to guide construction-phase controls.All work was delivered on budget and to agreed timeframes, supporting the successful resource consenting of the project. This collaboration demonstrates PDP’s ability to combine local insight with technical expertise, helping to advance renewable energy projects that contribute to a lower-carbon future for Aotearoa.