Nicolo' Simonato AgrotechTrina Solar, a global leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions, achieves a significant milestone with the completion of the Kohirā solar farm in collaboration with Lodestone Energy, marking the largest solar farm in New Zealand. This endeavor, incorporating Trina Solar modules and TrinaTracker smart tracking systems, signifies a pivotal advancement in the Oceania region’s renewable energy landscape. Covering 64 hectares in Kaitaia, the farm features cutting-edge technology, including Trina Solar Vertex 550W photovoltaic panels on Vanguard 2P trackers, aimed at maximizing energy generation. The project, with a capacity of 33MW DC, is poised to significantly contribute to New Zealand’s clean energy objectives, powering thousands of households. Additionally, the integration of agrivoltaic farming principles underscores the synergy between renewable energy production and agricultural activities, particularly relevant in land-constrained markets like New Zealand. Trina Solar’s commitment to comprehensive energy solutions is evident, facilitating streamlined processes for installers, reducing costs, and ensuring efficiency, even in challenging site conditions. Partnerships with industry leaders like Lodestone Energy exemplify a shared dedication to advancing sustainable energy initiatives, as echoed by Edison Zhou and Gary Holden’s remarks, highlighting ongoing collaborations and future prospects for renewable energy deployment in New Zealand.
Trina Solar’s Smart PV Powers New Zealand’s Largest Solar Farm with Energy Storage Solutions
Trina Solar, a world leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions, has announced the successful completion of the Kohirā solar farm in collaboration with Lodestone Energy, the largest solar farm in New Zealand, to date. This is the first Trina Solar project in the Oceania region to integrate both Trina Solar modules and TrinaTracker ( a business unit of Trina Solar ) smart tracking systems.
Covering 64 hectares in Kaitaia, the solar farm includes 61,000 Trina Solar Vertex 550W photovoltaic two glass panels on TrinaTracker Vanguard 2P bright tracking systems, with 33MW DC capacity. This farm marks a major stride toward New Zealand ‘s clean energy targets, expected to generate around 55GWh periodically, powering over 7, 770 households.
The integration of Trina Solar’s ultra- large- power photovoltaic modules with Vanguard 2P trackers, powered by a clever algorithm optimizing the tracking angle, ensures maximum energy generation. Moreover, enough space between panel rows and a 2- meter tracker height facilitates agrivoltaic farming, allowing renewable energy generation alongside agricultural activities. This is important in markets like New Zealand with big agricultural industries coupled with exceedingly scarce land resources.
Trina Solar’s Integrated Solutions Empower New Zealand’s Renewable Energy Landscape
This huge project underscores Trina Solar’s commitment to providing complete solutions for clever energy. Installers benefit from having a second procurement source, streamlining processes, enabling faster delivery, smoother negotiations, and unified after- sales service. This reduces costs and ensures efficiency, mainly in challenging site conditions.
Edison Zhou, Head of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands, said:” Our partnership has been characterized by close collaboration from the professional design phase to commissioning, overcoming challenges such as the undrained soil at the site. Low foundation count and our partnership with Lodestone Energy on foundation design helped us overcome this challenge up. We gladly anticipate future collaborations, and are committed to delivering modern excellence– including modules, trackers, and energy storage systems – to advance New Zealand’s zero-carbon future.
Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Energy, said,” Our fourth solar farm at Waiotahe is currently under construction, utilizing the latest Trina Solar panels and trackers again for efficient production. Our collaboration with Trina Solar enables us to fulfill our goal of supplying solar energy solutions to more consumers in New Zealand, meeting their sustainability goals while ensuring economic stability”.
Conclusions: A Landmark Collaboration in New Zealand’s Renewable Energy Journey
Trina Solar, in collaboration with Lodestone Energy, achieves a milestone with the completion of New Zealand’s largest solar farm, Kohirā. This 33MW DC capacity project, equipped with Trina Solar modules and TrinaTracker smart tracking systems, signifies a leap in the country’s renewable energy landscape. Incorporating agrivoltaic farming principles, it maximizes energy generation while fostering synergy with agricultural activities. This achievement underscores Trina Solar’s commitment to innovative, comprehensive energy solutions. The partnership with Lodestone Energy exemplifies shared dedication to advancing sustainable energy initiatives, positioning Kohirā as a significant contributor to New Zealand’s clean energy objectives and a testament to collaborative progress in renewable energy deployment.
