New Zealand's Latest Agrivoltaics Project: A Milestone in Renewable Energy

In the heart of New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, a groundbreaking project has just been completed, marking a significant milestone in the country's renewable energy landscape. The Rangitaiki Solar Farm, a collaboration between Trinasolar and Lodestone Energy, is not just another solar installation; it's a testament to the power of innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustainable practices.



The Rangitaiki Solar Farm stands out for its integration of agrivoltaics, a practice that combines agriculture with solar energy production. This approach addresses local community concerns about land use by maintaining approximately 80% of grass productivity, allowing sheep to graze comfortably under the elevated solar modules. As Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Energy, explained, "Agrivoltaics addresses local community concerns regarding land use. By integrating solar farms with agricultural activities, Lodestone Energy can maintain approximately 80% of grass productivity, ensuring that the land continues to support local farming needs."

The farm utilizes nearly 60,000 bi-facial Trinasolar Vertex modules mounted on TrinaTracker’s Vanguard 2P tracker systems. This setup not only boosts energy production, with a capacity of 32 MW generating enough electricity to power 7,500 Kiwi homes annually, but also supports sustainable farming practices. Edison Zhou, Head of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands at Trinasolar Asia Pacific, added, "From a pasture management perspective, the 2P trackers are ideal. They allow animals to move freely under the modules without confinement, providing essential shade and promoting continuous grass growth even during dry conditions."

The success of the Rangitaiki Solar Farm is attributed to Trinasolar’s role as a total solutions provider, offering both solar modules and trackers. This integrated model allowed for rapid resolution of technical queries and a streamlined installation process, crucial for the project’s completion within eight months. Nick Murray, Program Delivery Manager at Lodestone Energy, highlighted the pioneering nature of this setup, "The 2P setup was initially perceived as a risk since no one had done it in New Zealand before. However, having a total solutions supplier like Trinasolar allowed us to get answers to our questions quickly. This collaboration was one of the greatest benefits, as we learned how to deliver grid-scale solar in New Zealand, with the robust support of Trinasolar."

One of the project’s challenges was the logistics of transporting approximately 200 shipping containers of modules and equipment to New Zealand. Trinasolar’s position as the sole vendor facilitated better tracking and management of logistics, significantly simplifying the process. Murray explained, "Having a single vendor made tracking and managing logistics much easier. Once on-site, having one provider for installation ensured compatibility and minimized potential issues that might have arisen with multiple suppliers. The ease of installing Trinasolar’s trackers, along with their expert support, was crucial in achieving this milestone in just eight months."

The Rangitaiki Solar Farm also serves as a testbed for various agrivoltaic initiatives. Lodestone is exploring the trial cultivation of crops, such as strawberries, between the rows of solar modules. This method not only optimizes land use but also enhances the efficiency of bifacial solar modules by reflecting sunlight onto the modules. Murray stated, "Our goal is to support local agriculture and foster collaboration. We’re in early discussions with universities to trial various agrivoltaic techniques. The Rangitaiki Solar Farm will serve as a prototype for these initiatives, allowing us to develop and refine our practices."



The long-term benefits for both the energy and agriculture sectors in New Zealand include increased energy production, support for local farming, and the potential for further innovation in agrivoltaic techniques. As Lodestone Energy continues to lead investment in the country’s renewable electricity generation, it is critically important that policy and market settings encourage investor capital into the sector and enable developments to be executed faster. With nine further farms planned over the coming three years, Lodestone aims to generate over 800 GWh of certified renewable energy annually, tripling New Zealand’s solar production from 2022 levels.

In conclusion, the Rangitaiki Solar Farm is a shining example of how strategic partnerships, innovative technology, and sustainable practices can come together to create a brighter, more resilient energy future. As New Zealand continues to invest in renewable energy, projects like this will play a crucial role in building a more secure, lower-cost energy system for generations to come.