Big solar farm now ready for development

Nova Energy’s 400MW solar farm Te Rahui on about 1000ha used for dairying near Taupo is expected to start construction later this year.

All consents for the solar farm’s development have now been obtained, says a Waikato Times report.

It suggests the solar farm on State Highway 5 will be built in two stages and comprise about 900,000 solar panels able to power 100,000 homes while the dairying will transition to sheep farming.

The farm has good access to the national grid and is likely to have big batteries in future to store electricity.

Nova Energy, part of the Todd Corporation, is helping restore wetlands and rivers in the area.

The farm was reportedly once part of the ill-fated CraFarms (Crafar Farms) dairy empire with 16 farms later sold to China’s Shanghai Pengxin Group via subsidiary Milk New Zealand Holding.

2 Cheap Cars Group chair Michael Stiassny was involved in the Crafar Farms receivership while at KordaMentha.