New Zealand’s largest solar farm gets green light
A dairy farm is going to turn into New Zealand’s largest solar power station.
Resource consent has been granted for the 400MW solar power station near Taupō , which once complete will provide enough electricity for about 100,000 homes.
In May this year, Todd Generation, under its subsidiary Nova Energy, applied for consent to convert an existing 1022ha dairy farm, about 35km east of Taupō on State Highway 5, into a solar farm.
The proposed solar farm, opposite the Rangitā iki Tavern, would involve the installation of approximately 900,000 groundmounted solar panels, along with equipment needed to send power to the national grid. This would be done over three stages, phasing out dairy farm operations as work progresses, and over five years. The site currently operates with approximately 2600 head of cattle and various farming infrastructure including milking sheds and effluent management systems.
There are nine existing dwellings used for farmworker accommodation on the land.
Nova Energy chief executive Babu Bahirathan said the landmark decision was a positive step towards expanding Nova’s renewable energy generation portfolio, and a significant step towards New Zealand delivering on its climate change objectives and emission reduction targets.
Nova Energy first made the move into solar energy in 2021 after opening its 2.1MW Kapuni Solar Power Plant in South Taranaki.
‘‘With 400MW consented, the proposed solar farm at Rangitā iki is now New Zealand’s largest consented, grid-connected solar project,’’ Bahirathan said.
‘‘Our focus is now on assessing the development pathway of the project.
‘‘This includes partnering with an experienced contractor to help build a high-quality power plant and navigating the impact of the current economic climate on exchange rates, resource availability and supply chain.’’
Subject to final investment decisions, the first stage of the solar farm at Rangitā iki proposes to build and connect up to 150MW of capacity to the national grid in the next two years.
Bahirathan said the project would create hundreds of local jobs during construction and valuable training opportunities in the burgeoning solar sector.
In his decision, independent Resource Management Act commissioner William (Bill) Wasley said four submissions were received regarding the proposal – one in support, two neutral and one opposing.
Federated Farmers New Zealand said it was concerned by the loss of productive farm land in the region, and that it could have adverse economic, social, and cultural impacts on rural people.
It was also concerned by the potential for solar panels to leach toxins into groundwater supplies and the longevity and recyclability of those panels. However, Federated Farmers said it did support renewable electricity generation and improvements to regional power supplies.
Nova Energy said its panels were not expected to leach chemicals and recycling of solar panels was expected to have a recovery rate of 95%, while support structures and copper cables could be fully recycled.
‘‘The proposal has, however, significant positive effects given it is a renewable energy proposal generating electricity from the solar resource and also involves the retirement of the dairy farm activity and the benefits derived from the restoration and revegetation of riparian habitats,’’ Wasley said.