Rangitaiki Solar Farm, Edgecumbe
Rangitaiki Solar Farm is located approximately 2km from Edgecumbe town on the Te Teko road. The solar farm’s design allows machinery to operate and livestock to graze around and under the solar panels. Agriculture can continue alongside power generation for an output of 24 MW. This is equivalent to powering around 7,500 average local homes.
The Solar Farm comprises:
- 298kms of 6mm string cabling for Intersolar module connections
- 80kms of DC power cabling.
- 6,374 piles of approximately 6m driven into the ground
- 59,616 solar panels installed on 655 tables.
At completion, Edgecumbe Rangitaiki Solar Farm Project was the second large-scale solar farm in New Zealand and was a significant construction project with a build time of 12 months, from May 2023 to May 2024.
The project had a positive impact on the local Edgecumbe and Te Teko communities by sourcing staff locally. Where possible, local businesses were given the opportunity to support the project.
At the peak of construction, the project has employed more than 110 installers and technicians and involved more than 20 local service providers. The project was able to recruit 80% of the mechanical installers locally and some of them moved on the Waiotahe project currently being constructed.
Visit the Lodestone Energy website at: lodestoneernergy.co.nz
