Helios Energy welcomes resource consent for Karioi solar project.

Helios Energy has been granted resource consent by the Ruapehu District Council for a 110-megawatt (AC) solar farm at Stouts Road, Tangiwai. The project will produce enough renewable electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes.

Helios Energy Founder and Managing Director, Jeff Schlichting noted this is a significant milestone for the project.

“The Tangiwai area within the Ruapehu District was identified early on by Helios Energy as an attractive location for a large-scale solar project. Good solar resource combined with cooler ambient air temperatures near an existing transmission network connection point at Transpower’s Tangiwai substation make this an ideal location. The Karioi project represents one of the priority solar farm developments in Helios’ portfolio.”

Mr Schlichting praised the strong and collaborative working relationship Helios has developed with mana whenua Ngāti Rangi and with Ruapehu District Council.  The consent application was filed after more than two years of planning, design and extensive liaison with local stakeholders, and has resulted in a high-quality development that allows continued grazing, preserves natural wetlands, will be partially screened by new native vegetation and will sit alongside existing agricultural activities.

“We acknowledge the Ruapehu District has been disproportionately affected by industrial closures, decline in tourism from loss of visitors to Mount Rupaehu, and high electricity prices over the last few years. The Karioi solar project represents an investment of more than $150 million in the region and we are committed to working with the Council and local partners to source local supplies and employment wherever possible. Construction will take approximately 12 months. Longer term, there will be approximately five local jobs created once the project is commissioned. The site will be leased from a local multigenerational farming family and will remain in agricultural production via ongoing sheep grazing, as well as maintaining deer grazing on surrounding paddocks. ”

“Solar is one of the lowest cost sources of electricity globally and we believe the growth in solar generation across Aotearoa New Zealand will create downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices here as well.”

Helios has now commenced preparatory geotechnical work alongside other development milestones and construction of the project is anticipated to commence in 2026.

Helios has committed to establishing and funding a local partnership trust associated with each solar project it develops. The trust will provide annual funding of initiatives that make a material and enduring contribution to the local community by addressing local environmental sustainability, enhancing community cohesion, providing education and training opportunities and/or supporting initiatives to address local energy hardship.

ENDS