New Zealand’s leading solar developer, Lodestone Energy, has announced a landmark project that will significantly boost the country’s renewable energy capacity. The company is developing its largest project to date, a 220 MW solar farm located at Haldon Station within the South Island’s Mackenzie Basin, marking a major expansion into the region to complement New Zealand’s existing hydroelectric resources.
Scheduled to commence construction in mid-2025, the massive solar farm is projected to generate 340 GWh of electricity annually—sufficient to power nearly 50,000 New Zealand homes. As the first solar project to be considered under the government’s new Fast-track Approvals Act, its development underscores a national push towards decarbonization. This initiative is part of Lodestone’s Phase 2 expansion, financed through a capital raise managed by Forsyth Barr and Barrenjoey.
The project represents a unique collaboration with Haldon Station, which is leasing 320-340 hectares of non-productive, eroded land for the facility. The partnership is designed not just for energy production but for ecological restoration. Paddy Boyd, the Station Manager, explained the vision: “We believe, based on research and observations of other well-planned developments on the property, that the partial shade and shelter provided by the panels will benefit the land below, encouraging the revegetation of native flora and fauna.” He added that plans include ring-fencing the area with rabbit netting and destocking it entirely “to allow for full regeneration of natural grasses.”
Gary Holden, Lodestone’s managing director, emphasized the project’s strategic role in meeting market demand and national climate goals. “By diversifying our production and expanding into the South Island, our company is meeting customer needs, providing an alternative power option and playing a crucial role in achieving zero carbon goals,” Holden stated. He noted that growing demand from commercial customers for 100% renewable energy is a key driver for this expansion.
The Haldon Station facility is the fourth project announced in Lodestone’s Phase 2 program, joining other planned sites in Clandeboye, Mount Somers, and Dunsandel. This builds on the company’s established presence in the North Island, where it already operates the 33 MW Kohirā farm and the 32 MW Rangitaiki farm. Furthermore, the 42 MW Te Herenga o Te Rā solar farm is expected to begin operations later this year, with additional 32 MW and 52 MW projects in Whitianga and Dargaville set to come online in mid-2025.
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