Buddle Findlay congratulates Lightsource bp and Contact Energy on reaching financial close on the Glorit Solar Farm project.
The 171MWdc Glorit Solar Farm, located north of Auckland, will deliver critical new renewable generation infrastructure to New Zealand strengthening generation capacity in the upper North Island. It is the first grid-scale solar farm to be constructed in the Auckland region and is anticipated to provide power for the equivalent of around 40,000 homes. It also has approvals for a battery energy storage system to store and dispatch solar energy when needed.
Buddle Findlay was the lead advisor to Lightsource bp and Contact Energy on the consenting of the solar farm through the Natural and Built Environment Act Fast-track process and subsequent High Court appeal. We also advised Glorit Solar P LP (alongside the Mallesons team) on the New Zealand legal project development, implementation and financing of the Glorit Solar Farm, and assisted Glorit Solar P LP to obtain overseas investment consent, and an exemption from the farm land advertising requirements.
The Buddle Findlay team included partners Vanessa Evitt, Daniel Coillins, Ed McGimpsey and Susie Kilty and Senior Associates Mathew Gribben and Hannah Lee.
Vanessa Evitt, who led the consenting phase of the project commented "We're proud to have supported Lightsource bp and Contact Energy in achieving this important milestone. It's an exciting step for large-scale solar development in New Zealand and more broadly our continuing energy transition"
