Te Herenga o Te Rā combines solar power and sheep grazing

The converted dairy farm, situated along the border of the Waitohe River in the Opotiki District, is a joint venture between Trinasolar, a global smart photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage solutions provider and Lodestone Energy.

Construction of the 71,000+ module utility-scale solar farm began in December 2023 and achieved first generation in December 2024, with the project's construction progressing faster than anticipated. This was due, in part, to the ongoing partnership between module supplier, Trinasolar and Lodestone. As the third agrivoltaics project developed together, ongoing collaboration enabled the refinement of construction processes.

Incremental improvements in small and repetitive installation tasks translated to large efficiencies at scale - significantly accelerating the construction schedule. Once fully operational, the 42MWp farm will generate 69GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power nearly 10,000 homes, and is the first solar project in New Zealand to feed directly into the grid.

Like Lodesone's other farms, Te Herenga o Te Rā, plans to integrate sheep grazing beneath elevated solar modules, allowing livestock and renewable energy production to coexist. The elevated panelling design provides shade for sheep during warmer months, reducing heat stress, while their natural grazing controls grass growth under the modules - reducing maintenance costs, herbicide use, and machinery emissions.

Lodestone Energy plans to reinstate the necessary infrastructure to support livestock, including new yards and fencing, before welcoming the next grazing lessee to Te Herenga o Te Rā later this year.

Connor Dent, grazing lessee and pastoralist of Lodestone's first agrivoltaics project, Kohira, has found the experience overwhelmingly positive.

"As a civil engineer, I was directly involved in constructing Lodestone's first solar farm, Kohira, which gave me a unique perspective on the project from the ground up. Through this work, I became aware of the opportunity to trial grazing under the panels and was keen to take it on," he says.

"Since then, I've seen firsthand the benefits of agrivoltaics for both the land and livestock. The panels provide shelter, which has improved survival rates, and we've noticed better grass retention through dry periods. There are some challenges, like managing fertiliser application and working the dogs when the panels are tilted, but overall, it's been a positive experience. Seeing the project through from construction, to now farming on the land has been incredibly rewarding."

The latest project builds on the longstanding partnership between Lodestone Energy and Trinasolar, which has now seen nearly 200,000 Trinasolar modules deployed across Lodestone's three operational solar farms in Kaitaia, Edgecumbe and the latest in Waitaohe.

Edison Zhou, head of Trinasolar Australia & New Zealand, says the farm is a standout example of how solar and agriculture can work together seamlessly.

He notes that globally, interest in agrivoltaics is accelerating, and Lodestone is at the forefront of delivering large-scale, dual-use projects.

"Their work is setting a benchmark for agrivoltaics initiatives worldwide, and we're excited to be part of their journey."