Trina Solar has announced the successful completion of New Zealand’s Kohirā solar farm, the country’s largest to date, in collaboration with Lodestone Energy. This represents the company’s first project in the Oceania region to integrate both its modules and smart tracking systems provided by its TrinaTracker business unit.
Covering 64 hectares in Kaitāia, the plant deploys 61,000 Vertex 550W bifacial dual glass panels installed on TrinaTracker Vanguard 2P tracking systems. It has a capacity of 33MW DC and is forecast to generate an annual 55GWh, powering some 8,000 households.
Edison Zhou, Trina’s head for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, commented: “Our partnership has been characterized by close collaboration from the technical design phase to commissioning, overcoming challenges such as the lack of soil cohesion at the site. This is where the Vanguard 2P tracker’s low foundation count, and our partnership with Lodestone Energy on foundation design, enabled us to overcome this obstacle together. We eagerly anticipate future collaboration, and are committed to delivering technological excellence – including modules, trackers and energy storage systems – to advance New Zealand’s zero-carbon future.”
Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Energy, added: “Our third solar farm at Waiotahe is currently under construction, once again utilizing the latest Trina Solar panels and trackers for optimal production. Our collaboration with Trina enables us to fulfill our goal of supplying renewable energy solutions to more consumers in New Zealand, meeting their sustainability goals while ensuring economic stability.”