We use cookies to improve your experience and for marketing. Read our cookie policy or manage cookies.
Search across reports, market insights, and blog stories.
Lodestone Energy and Centralines have announced that work on a NZ$50 million (US$29.5 million) solar photovoltaic facility on the Ruataniwha Plains in Central Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, is set to start in the upcoming spring season.
The equally split 50:50 joint venture will build a 31.5MWdc solar PV plant equipped with roughly 49,000 solar panels, capable of producing about 50GWh of renewable electricity annually.
Site preparation has already commenced, with major construction slated for spring and commercial launch anticipated in late summer 2027. The 49,000 high-efficiency 640W modules, sourced from Chinese manufacturer Trina Solar, have been dispatched to Napier ahead of assembly. Trina Solar has previously provided panels for several Lodestone ventures, such as Kohira, Rangitaiki, and Te Herenga o Te Ra.
Upon completion, the plant will supply power directly into the Centralines distribution network, boosting local generation and cutting the area’s dependence on electricity transmitted from remote sections of the national grid. Centralines’ equity share in the partnership aims to retain long-term benefits locally, with profits reinvested into regional power infrastructure improvements.
Lodestone managing director Gary Holden remarked that the initiative fills a long-standing void in Hawkes Bay’s energy portfolio. He noted that the collaboration introduces fresh renewable generation to a region abundant in solar potential yet historically burdened by steep electricity costs, and that it will enhance local supply, bolster energy security, enable retail innovation, and provide enduring advantages for Hawkes Bay communities and enterprises over many years.
Centralines Chair Fenton Wilson stated that the project guarantees that gains from the development stay within the area. He emphasized that investing in local generation fortifies network resilience while ensuring the community reaps the rewards.
This Central Hawkes Bay project represents Lodestone’s sixth solar PV plant development, coming after a phase of intense construction activity throughout New Zealand. As PV Tech reported in 2025, Lodestone’s 42MW Te Herenga o Te Ra solar PV plant in the Waiotahe Valley was the first solar facility in New Zealand to connect directly to Transpower’s national grid, with the 69GWh project incorporating agrivoltaic design to allow sheep grazing under elevated panels on single-axis tracker systems.
Agrivoltaics, a recurring element in Lodestone’s solar PV plant designs, will also be implemented at the Ruataniwha Plains location, enabling agricultural use alongside power generation. In June 2025, Lodestone started construction on its inaugural South Island solar PV plant at Clandeboye in Canterbury, a 27.7MW facility on a 42-hectare flat site formerly used for dairy farming, featuring about 45,000 single portrait bifacial panels designed to produce 43GWh annually and support the company’s expanding South Island clientele.
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
The Largest Destinations for Exports
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
Instant access. No credit card needed.
Online access to 2M+ reports, dashboards, and tables. Trusted by Fortune 500 teams.
IndexBox, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike #1441
Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Contact us
© 2026 IndexBox, Inc

source