New Zealand Solar Farm Survives Major Flood Event Successfully
A solar farm in New Zealand has successfully navigated a significant flood event, demonstrating what its developers have termed “the ultimate test” of its design and technology. Lodestone Energy reports that its 42 megawatt (MW) Te Herenga o Te Rā solar farm, located in the Bay of Plenty region on the North Island, was impacted by an extreme rainfall event referred to by meteorologists as an “atmospheric river” last week.
In a LinkedIn update on Monday, Lodestone noted that the solar farm, which began generating power in December 2024, “remained fully operational until the last few millimetres of rain … when the operations team decided, out of caution, to disconnect from the grid and ride out the storm.”
Successful Recovery After the Storm
As the sun emerged once more, the floodwaters receded almost as swiftly as they had arrived. The Lodestone team promptly assessed the site using thermal-camera drones to inspect each component and evaluate how effectively the tracking solar technology and flood-mitigation strategies had performed under the circumstances. The findings revealed that the floodwaters reached levels anticipated by the design, and the farm operated as the engineering team had predicted, emerging from the ordeal in good condition.
Following a concerted effort from the #NewPower and #Lodestone teams, who worked diligently over the weekend to conduct inspections and testing, power generation has resumed. The farm is once again harnessing the sunlight in Waiotahe Valley.
Innovative Design for Extreme Weather
Te Herenga o Te Rā, a name bestowed by the local hapū Te Ūpokorehe, translates to “mooring place of the sun.” The solar farm was constructed at the confluence of the Waiotahe River and was designed as an agrivoltaic project, ensuring the preservation of the land’s agricultural and horticultural potential. However, its valley location necessitated a design that could handle the likelihood of significant water influx, as highlighted in the LinkedIn post – “and this week was the ultimate test!”
To prepare for extreme weather, the engineering team undertook meticulous reviews of the terrain’s elevations and historical rainfall data. This thorough analysis informed the solar farm’s engineering approach, which included a unique piling design extending over four metres deep and elevated placement of the solar panels.
Factors such as rapid water flow, potential floating debris, and the risk of sliding embankments were also incorporated into the design considerations. The ability to stow the panels horizontally from Lodestone’s remote control centre proved crucial in bracing for the formidable natural forces at play.
Ultimately, while the design was more expensive than a standard solar farm, elevating the inverter stations and panel connection boxes above ground level to ensure continued operation in over a metre of water was validated as the right decision.
