March 01, 2024
Kaitaia solar power scheme on grid
Lodestone Energy has flicked the switch on Aotearoa’s first large-scale solar generation plant at Kaitaia.
The site’s official name Kohirā was gifted by Te Rarawa and translates to suncatcher.
Managing director Gary Holden says Lodestone is committed to working with tangata whenua to deliver solar projects that empower both the regions in which they operate, and the way Kiwis live.
What’s been learned at Kaitaia is being used in the construction of its other sites with Edgecumbe close to starting generation and Waiotahe construction on target to be generating by the end of the year.
Another first for New Zealand is the agri-voltaic design of Kohirā, which maximises the production of electricity and maintains productive farming.
With more than 61,000 solar panels installed, the farm will generate 56 GWh of power annually which is earmarked for residential and commercial energy consumers, including The Warehouse Group.
This week, Lodestone also successfully completed an equity capital raise of $55 million.