Trinasolar and Lodestone Energy have partnered to develop Te Herenga o Te Rā, one of New Zealand’s largest agrivoltaics farms, in the Ōpōtiki District. The 42 MWp solar farm features over 71,000 modules and aims to deliver clean energy while maintaining agricultural use through sheep grazing beneath the solar panels. Construction began in December 2023 and achieved first generation by December 2024, with Trinasolar as the module supplier and Lodestone Energy as the project developer. The project is the third collaboration between the two companies, and their continued partnership has allowed for refinements in construction processes, leading to increased efficiency and a faster construction time. The solar farm is expected to generate 69 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power approximately 10,000 homes. The design of the solar farm also provides shade for sheep, reduces heat stress, and manages vegetation growth, making it a sustainable and innovative example of agrivoltaics.
Trinasolar and Lodestone collaborate to debut pioneering agrivoltaics solar initiative in New Zealand.
