The Kohirā solar farm is a photovoltaic power station near Kaitaia in the Far North District of New Zealand. The farm is owned by Lodestone Energy.[1] When complete, the farm will generate 55 GWh of electricity a year, with a nameplate capacity of 32 MWp DC[2] and 23 MW AC.[3]
| Kohirā | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Location | Far North District |
| Coordinates | 35°4′54″S 173°13′10″E / 35.08167°S 173.21944°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Owner | Lodestone Energy |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Solar tracker | Single-axis |
| Site area | 20.5 ha |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 23 MW AC (32 MW DC) |
| Annual net output | 55 GWh |
The farm uses elevated racks, allowing the area underneath the panels to be used for sheep pasture.[4][5]
Construction of the farm began in December 2022.[6] It generated its first electricity in November 2023.[7][8] It began transmitting electricity to the grid in February 2024.[9][10][11]
The farm was gifted the name "Kohirā" ("suncatcher") by local iwi Te Rarawa.[12]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "The Solar Farms". Lodestone Energy. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Let the sun shine!". Electricity Authority. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Peter de Graaf (27 November 2023). "'A task in itself': Country's largest solar power station built in Kaitāia". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Huge solar farm leaves room for livestock". FedsNews. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Agrivoltaics tested at Northland solar farm". RNZ. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "NZ's biggest solar farm due to power up Kaitaia next year". New Zealand Herald. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Lodestone, Eastland's new solar power projects switched on, generating electricity". New Zealand Herald. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand's largest solar farm near Kaitāia has started to generate electricity". New Zealand Herald. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Electricity from massive Kaitāia solar farm powering stores nationwide". New Zealand Herald. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Lodestone Energy's solar farm in Kaitāia starts powering national grid". New Zealand Herald. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Sun, sheep and power: NZ's first utility-scale solar farm". One News. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Northland could be solar farm hotspot". New Zealand Herald. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
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