New Zealand Solar Farm Will Power 8,000 Homes, Keep Sheep Too

Sheep and solar panels are teaming up in New Zealand to power a greener future. Construction has officially begun on the Central Hawke's Bay solar farm, a 31.5 megawatt facility that will generate enough clean electricity to power around 8,000 homes annually starting in 2027.

The project spans 34 hectares about 246 kilometers northeast of Wellington. It will feature nearly 50,000 solar panels working alongside an unexpected workforce: sheep who will continue grazing the land just as they did before construction began.

This dual-use approach, called agrivoltaics, lets the same land produce both food and energy. The site previously supported beef and lamb production through dry stock grazing, and sheep will return once the panels are installed.

Lodestone Energy and local distributor Centralines partnered to create Hawke's Bay's first utility-scale solar farm. The collaboration represents a major step forward for the region's energy independence and affordability.

"As a consumer-owned lines company, we are focused on supporting energy resilience and helping deliver lasting value and competitive pricing options for our consumers," said Centralines Chair Fenton Wilson. The project marks a long-term investment in the region's sustainable future.

Local residents will benefit directly through a new pricing plan designed to smooth out energy bill fluctuations. Lodestone Energy's EASY Plan will give Hawke's Bay residents access to locally generated electricity at competitive rates.

The Ripple Effect

This solar farm demonstrates how renewable energy projects can strengthen local communities while fighting climate change. By generating power close to where people use it, the facility reduces transmission losses and keeps energy dollars in the region.

The sheep-friendly design also shows farmers worldwide that going solar doesn't mean giving up productive land. Animals can graze comfortably in the shade of panels while the same acreage generates two income streams.

Four smart transformer stations will connect the facility to the existing power grid, feeding 50 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity into the system each year. That's enough to eliminate thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually.

Central Hawke's Bay is proving that the path to renewable energy doesn't require choosing between progress and tradition.