Lodestone Energy breaks ground at fourth North Island solar farm

Lodestone Energy has started construction on its fourth North Island utility-scale solar farm near Whitianga in the Coromandel.

Iwi, dignitaries and community members participated in a ground-breaking ceremony on September 6 to commemorate the start of the project.

They included Coromandel MP Scott Simpson, Powerco chief executive James Kilty, and Lodestone managing director Gary Holden who marked the occasion by planting native trees on the site.

Once operational, Lodestone’s Whitianga solar farm will generate about 50GWh of clean renewable energy annually – enough electricity to power more than 6800 households.

The site will have more than 53,000 solar panels supported by 7150 piles with construction expected to be completed by November 2025.

The Whitianga project includes a partnership with local electricity network operator Powerco which is building a new substation on the same site.

The new infrastructure will deliver significant value to the Coromandel region by injecting low-cost renewable electricity, improving local energy resilience and adding capacity for Coromandel Peninsula growth, says Lodestone Energy.

“Starting construction on our fourth North Island solar farm continues to deliver on our strategy to develop a diverse spread of regional solar resources to serve the needs of customers across New Zealand,” says Lodestone Energy managing director Gary Holden.

“The challenges seen in the energy market in recent months are a testament to the need for new, clean, affordable energy supply and we are continuing to bring this to market at pace.”

Previously a dairy farm, Lodestone is again using an agrivoltaic design to maximise electricity generation while preserving the farm’s productive land.

Setting the panels widely apart and high above the ground allows machinery to operate and sheep grazing or horticultural activities to continue around them.

Lodestone says it is already securing commercial customers for the Whitianga farm through its first-to-market ‘Virtual Rooftop Solution’.

 “Customers who contract capacity from the farms stand to gain a lot,” says Holden.

“They will benefit from long-term price stability and the sought-after sustainability credentials that come when adopting certified 100% renewable energy.”

Whitianga is Lodestone Energy’s fourth farm in its Phase 1 programme and follows solar farms near Kaitaia, Edgecumbe and Waiotahe.

Further sites in Dargaville, Manawatu and Canterbury are due to start construction in 2025.

Lodestone Energy plans18 utility-scale solar projects across New Zealand, with the addition of its Phase 2 and Phase 3 development plans.