New Zealand's Lodestone Energy has secured two large solar sites on the North Island as part of its ongoing expansion.
Lodestone Expands Solar Footprint in New Zealand
Auckland-based solar farm developer Lodestone Energy has acquired two major solar sites in New Zealand, further expanding its portfolio of energy projects across the North Island. The sites located in the Manawatu region—140 and 180 kilometres north of Wellington—were purchased from renewables developer Kiwi Solar and come with pre-consenting works already completed.
The 40-hectare Bunnythorpe solar farm with a capacity of 26 MW and the 45-hectare Kairanga solar farm with a capacity of 27 MW both have signed land options and are advancing through the connection process with electricity distributor Powerco.
These two new sites will be developed alongside a third Lodestone project in the Manawatu region which is already consented and in detailed planning. Construction on the first of these sites is expected to begin in mid-2025.
Solar Farms to Power 11,700 Homes Annually
The newly acquired sites will generate an extra 84 GWh of renewable electricity annually which could power up to 11,700 homes.
Lodestone Energy’s newly acquired solar sites will generate 84 GWh annually, powering 11,700 homes and expanding clean energy in New Zealand.
Lodestone Energy Managing Director Gary Holden stated that there is broad agreement in the electricity market that solar power has emerged as the most cost-effective source of clean electricity generation.
“Lodestone’s strategy to develop a diverse spread of regional solar resources, to serve the needs of consumers across New Zealand, is enhanced with these two well-developed sites. We saw immediate synergy with our other site in this area and look forward to linking this trio of generators to customers seeking to take advantage of the long-term benefits of solar.” Holden said.
Kiwi Solar Chooses Lodestone for Solar Farm Development
Kiwi Solar founder Andrew Beckett noted that Lodestone was chosen as a strong partner due to its proven expertise in developing and operating solar farms of this scale.
“Kiwi Solar is working on a further pipeline of 100 MW of utility-scale solar farms with a focus on 5 to 10 MW sizes that are developed and constructed in-house,” Beckett said.
Lodestone currently operates two solar farms near Kaitaia and the 32 MW Edgecumbe site in the Manawatu region. Additionally, two more farms near Waiotahe and Whitianga are under construction. With ten more solar projects at various stages of development across New Zealand, the company is set to introduce a total of 564 MW of new renewable energy to the market.