Te Herenga o Te Rā
| Te Herenga o Te Rā | |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Ōpōtiki District |
| Coordinates | 38°1′33.1″S 177°10′58.8″E / 38.025861°S 177.183000°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Owner | Lodestone Energy |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 33 MW AC (42 MW DC) |
| Annual net output | 69 GWh |
The Te Herenga o Te Rā solar farm is a photovoltaic power station near Waiotahe in the Ōpōtiki District of New Zealand. It was the first solar farm to be connected directly to New Zealand's national grid.[1] The farm is owned by Lodestone Energy, and will generate 69 GWh of electricity a year, with a nameplate capacity of 42 MWp DC[2] and 33 MW AC.[3]
The farm uses elevated racks, allowing the area underneath the panels to be used for grazing or horticulture.[4]
Construction of the farm began in December 2023. It began transmitting electricity to the grid in January 2025.[1]
The farm was gifted the name "Te Herenga o Te Rā" ("The mooring place of the sun") by local iwi (tribe) Te Ūpokorehe.[5]
On 30 July 2025 the farm survived a major flood, and was able to remain connected to the grid for almost the entire duration of the extreme rainfall event.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Lodestone marks milestone as another solar farm powers up". Farmers Weekly. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Lodestone – Te Herenga o Te Rā, Waiotahe". New Energy. January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Te Herenga o Te Rā, Bay of Plenty". Infratec. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Lodestone connects New Zealand's first solar PV plant to the grid". PVTech. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Te Herenga o Te Rā". Lodestone Energy. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ ""Ultimate test:" New Zealand solar farm powers through major flood event". Renew Economy. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.