Kohirā Solar Farm Explained

Kohirā
Country:New Zealand
Location:Far North District
Status:Operating
Owner:Lodestone Energy
Solar Type:Flat-panel PV
Solar Tracker:1A
Ps Site Area:20.5 ha
Ps Electrical Capacity:23 MW AC (32 MW DC)
Ps Annual Generation:55 GWh

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]

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Solar Farms . Lodestone Energy . 31 August 2023.
  2. Web site: Let the sun shine! . Electricity Authority . 1 December 2023 . 11 December 2023.
  3. Web site: 'A task in itself': Country's largest solar power station built in Kaitāia . . Peter de Graaf . 27 November 2023 . 28 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Huge solar farm leaves room for livestock . FedsNews . 20 April 2021 . 31 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Agrivoltaics tested at Northland solar farm . . 5 July 2024 . 6 July 2024.
  6. Web site: NZ’s biggest solar farm due to power up Kaitaia next year . . 21 December 2022 . 31 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Lodestone, Eastland’s new solar power projects switched on, generating electricity . . 24 November 2023 . 23 November 2023.
  8. Web site: New Zealand’s largest solar farm near Kaitāia has started to generate electricity . . 25 November 2023 . 26 November 2023.
  9. Web site: Electricity from massive Kaitāia solar farm powering stores nationwide . . 14 February 2024 . 15 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Lodestone Energy’s solar farm in Kaitāia starts powering national grid . . 28 February 2024 . 29 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Sun, sheep and power: NZ's first utility-scale solar farm . One News . 29 February 2024 . 29 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Northland could be solar farm hotspot . . 13 March 2024 . 14 March 2024.

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