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- Photo voltaic developer, Lodestone Power once more companions with Trinasolar — with the partnership, the primary of its type for NZ, delivering grid scale mission: Bringing agrivoltaics to the fore within the Bay of Loads, New Zealand
- Agrivoltaics entails twin use of land for photo voltaic vitality manufacturing and agriculture
- Trinasolar tracker and module provider mannequin chosen for streamlined operations and expedient timelines
- The design utilising 2 in portrait modules with autonomous monitoring enhances vitality manufacturing, boasting a capability of 32 MW and producing sufficient electrical energy to energy 7,500 Kiwi properties
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Trinasolar, a world chief in sensible photovoltaic (PV) and vitality storage options, is proud to announce the profitable completion of the development of the Rangitaiki Photo voltaic Farm, situated the Bay of Loads, New Zealand. In collaboration with Lodestone Power, this landmark mission marks one other important milestone in New Zealand’s renewable vitality panorama by seamlessly integrating experience, progressive know-how, and strategic partnerships — setting a brand new customary for grid-scale photo voltaic installations in New Zealand. As an built-in complete options supplier, Trinasolar has demonstrated its capability to ship complete renewable vitality options, from photo voltaic modules to trackers, guaranteeing the very best requirements of high quality and effectivity.
Integrating Agrivoltaics for Optimum Land Use
“Agrivoltaics addresses local community concerns regarding land use. By integrating solar farms with agricultural activities, Lodestone Energy can maintain approximately 80% of grass productivity, ensuring that the land continues to support local farming needs,” defined Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Power.
Agrivoltaics, the apply of integrating agriculture with photo voltaic vitality manufacturing, is on the forefront of the Rangitaiki Photo voltaic Farm’s design, heralding a brand new period of renewable vitality.
Utilising practically 60,000 bi-facial Trinasolar Vertex modules mounted on TrinaTracker’s Vanguard 2P tracker methods, the farm maximises land use effectivity by permitting sheep to graze comfortably beneath the elevated modules. This progressive dual-use strategy not solely boosts vitality manufacturing, with a capability of 32 MW producing sufficient electrical energy to energy 7,500 Kiwi properties yearly, but additionally helps sustainable farming practices, offering mutual advantages for each the vitality and agriculture sectors in New Zealand.
“From a pasture management perspective, the 2P trackers are ideal. They allow animals to move freely under the modules without confinement, providing essential shade and promoting continuous grass growth even during dry conditions,” added Edison Zhou, Head of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands at Trinasolar Asia Pacific.
Nick Murray, Program Supply Supervisor at Lodestone Power, highlighted the pioneering nature of this setup, “The 2P setup was initially perceived as a risk since no one had done it in New Zealand before. However, having a total solutions supplier like Trinasolar allowed us to get answers to our questions quickly. This collaboration was one of the greatest benefits, as we learned how to deliver grid-scale solar in New Zealand, with the robust support of Trinasolar.”
Revolutionary Options and Strategic Partnerships
As a complete options supplier, Trinasolar’s built-in tracker and module provider mannequin proved to be a game-changer for this mission, enabling fast decision of technical queries and guaranteeing a streamlined set up course of. This was the second time Lodestone had labored with Trinasolar on an agrivoltaics mission, additional increasing on a confirmed idea.
One of the crucial difficult features of the mission was the logistics of transporting modules and gear to New Zealand. With roughly 200 delivery containers required, the nation’s smaller ports posed a big problem. Nevertheless, Trinasolar’s place as the only real vendor facilitated higher monitoring and administration of logistics, considerably simplifying the method.
“Having a single vendor made tracking and managing logistics much easier. Once on-site, having one provider for installation ensured compatibility and minimised potential issues that might have arisen with multiple suppliers. The ease of installing Trinasolar’s trackers, along with their expert support, was crucial in achieving this milestone in just eight months,” mentioned Murray. “The experience gained from previous installations, combined with Trinasolar’s support, played a crucial role in our expedited timeline.”
The Rangitaiki Photo voltaic Farm additionally serves as a testbed for varied agrivoltaic initiatives. Lodestone is exploring the trial of cultivation of crops, equivalent to strawberries, between the rows of photo voltaic modules. This technique not solely optimizes land use but additionally enhances the effectivity of bifacial photo voltaic modules by reflecting daylight onto the modules.
“Our goal is to support local agriculture and foster collaboration. We’re in early discussions with universities to trial various agrivoltaic techniques. The Rangitaiki Solar Farm will serve as a prototype for these initiatives, allowing us to develop and refine our practices,” mentioned Murray.
Paving the Manner for a Sustainable Future
The profitable integration of agrivoltaics on the Rangitaiki Photo voltaic Farm marks a big step ahead within the renewable vitality sector. By combining solar energy technology with sustainable farming practices, Trinasolar and Lodestone Power are paving the best way for a greener and extra sustainable future in New Zealand. This underscores Trinasolar’s dedication to advancing renewable vitality options and supporting New Zealand’s transition to a sustainable vitality future. This mission not solely enhances the nation’s vitality portfolio but additionally units a precedent for future renewable vitality tasks.
Supply: Trinasolar
