Te Ihi o te Rā harnessing the power of the sun

Eastland Generation’s new solar farm at Gisborne Airport is now operational. The 8000 bi-facial solar panels should generate approximately 7200MW of renewable energy every year, enough to provide power for 1000 homes. Picture supplied

Gisborne’s horizon just got greener with the launch of Te Ihi o te Rā, for now the largest operational solar farm in New Zealand.

Spanning 6.1 hectares and equippped with 8000 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 resiliance.

“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.”

Ms Pettigrew said some important lessons had been learned throughout the project and those would be put to use in future projects with sites secured in Wairoa and Uawa.

The energy generated by the solar panels will feed into the Firstlight Network grid, offering a greener alternative to conventional energy sources.

“Beyond powering homes, the solar farm reflects a commitment to national objectives.

“We are now one step closer to exceeding our goal of 100 megawatts of renewable generation by 2027,” Ms Pettigrew said.