Twizel Solar Project

Project summary

Establishment and operation of a 300-megawatt solar farm over 500 hectares of an 868-hectare site to the east of Twizel Township. Once operational and connected to the National Grid, the project will generate enough renewable energy annually to power 75,000 homes.

Project to include:

• general earthworks and site establishment including the construction of operational and management buildings, inverters, internal roads/tracks

• solar panels situated on solar tables with a single axis tracking system covering 500 hectares of the 868-hectare site

• 33kv overhead transmission lines to connect the project to the Transpower New Zealand Twizel Substation

• establishment of exclusion areas and buffers to protect significant native vegetation, habitat and wetlands.

Project location

East of Twizel township and State Highway 8 in the Mackenzie District, Canterbury Region.

Project referral

The Minister for Infrastructure referred the project to the Fast-track on 1 August 2025. The application was lodged on 11 April 2025.

Notice of decisions on application for referral of Twizel Solar Project (PDF, 174KB)

Completeness decision

The substantive application by Nova Energy Limited was deemed complete on the 30 June 2026. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application lodged on the 9 June 2026.

Record of decision on completeness and scope (PDF, 78KB)

Memo on assessment of compliance under section 46 (PDF, 296KB)

Completeness responses

Department of Conservation

DOC response to S46 (PDF, 224KB)

Environment Canterbury Regional Council

ECan S46 check letter (PDF, 1.8MB)

ECan section 30 letter (PDF, 165KB)

Indigenous Biodiversity Technical Advice (PDF, 1MB)

Mackenzie District Council

Mackenzie District Council response to S46 (PDF, 220KB)

Competing applications decision

The substantive application by Nova Energy Limited was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 15 July 2026. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Record of decision on completing applications - Twizel Solar Farm (PDF, 89KB)