Te Ihi o te Rā Solar Farm, Gisborne

Infratec is proud to have partnered with Eastland Generation to develop and build the first utility-scale solar project at an airport in New Zealand.

Spanning 6.1 hectares and equipped with 8,000 bi-facial solar panels, the 5.2-megawatt Te Ihi o te Rā solar farm harnesses the power of the sun and generates approximately 7300MW of renewable energy annually — enough to power 1000 “typical” homes.

“Te Ihi o te Rā marks a great accomplishment for our organisation, partners and region, highlighting strides in the renewable energy sector,” Eastland Generation chief executive Alice Pettigrew said.

“From design to consent, construction and commissioning, our team’s commitment and expertise have steered this complex project towards resounding success.

“We are lucky to have a great partnership with (hapū) Ngai Tāwhiri, who have been supportive along this journey and played a key role in weaving traditional wisdom into our modern approach to renewable energy.”

Ms Pettigrew emphasised that Te Ihi o te Rā went beyond the metrics of power. It was a commitment to nurturing the environment and empowering communities.

Infratec general manager Nick Bibby said the partnership’s first project would improve the region’s energy resilience.

“Using cutting edge technology and a safety first focus, Te Ihi o te Rā is a great example of how to deliver a community-driven solar generation facility.”