Lodestone energises New Zealand's first utility-scale solar park

Solar developer and power producer Lodestone Energy has brought online what it says is New Zealand’s first utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) park, a 39.4-MW plant in the country’s North Island the operations of which will be combined with agricultural activities.

The New-Zealand based company said on Friday that the Kaitaia solar farm is the South Pacific Ocean nation’s first one to bid into the electricity market.

Equipped with more than 61,000 PV panels, the complex will be capable of generating 55 GWh of electricity annually, which will be supplied for residential and commercial energy consumers. The project, the construction of which ramped up early this year, will incorporate power production and will also allow the site to be used for farming purposes.

“This project ushers in a new era for energy in New Zealand. Kaitaia is the first solar farm at this scale and is a key step in helping New Zealand deliver on its climate goals,” said Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Energy.

Kaitaia was built under a programme for broader solar power installation by Lodestone. The company expects to commission two other solar farms at the start and end of 2024, respectively.

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