32 | Powering the region with solar Rangimārie, a 12-megawatt (DC) development in north Waikato, is expected to be fully operational by the end of April. NewPower Energy T T Kim Bowden ENERGY A new solar farm in Waikato is about to switch on, with its backers focused on generating power closer to where it is used. Rangimārie, a 12-megawatt (DC) development in north Waikato, is expected to be fully operational by the end of April. At peak output, it will generate approximately 10 megawatts (AC), enough to supply roughly 2,400 homes. The project marks another step in a fastgrowing portfolio for NewPower Energy, a subsidiary of WEL Networks, which is building a network of smaller solar assets across the region. Rangimārie sits near Meremere and the name, meaning Peace and Tranquility, was gifted by Ngāti Paoa. Rather than concentrating generation in a single large site, NewPower is spreading assets across its network and around New Zealand. Alongside Rangimārie, NewPower also owns the recently commissioned Taiohi 33-megawatt solar farm at Rangiriri, the Rotohiko 35-megawatt-hour battery at Huntly, a 4.8-megawatt solar farm at Naumai, near Dargaville, and a 30-megawatt solar farm project currently under way near Cambridge. The approach is deliberate. Smaller, distributed sites are designed to improve resilience. It was a lesson learned during the August 2021 Transpower outage, when large parts of the network were shut off during peak winter demand. David says the goal is to have generation and storage within the region, so resilience is provided locally rather than relying on somewhere else. NewPower works alongside its sister company Infratec, which designs and builds solar farms for both internal and external clients, including independent generators and commercial operators. Revenue from those assets sits outside regulated network earnings of its parent company, creating a secondary income stream that can be reinvested into infrastructure. “This is all about the energy transition and decarbonisation, right?” David says. Solar is gaining traction for its speed, as well as its emissions profile. “Solar is the quickest form of generation that can be built, compared to hydro or wind,” he says. That speed is becoming critical as electricity demand rises and gas supply tightens, while large-scale projects can take years to consent and build. He says the pace of electrification is also adding pressure to the network. “In the next three to five years, the amount of load growth coming is significant,” he says. Local generation and storage can help ease that strain, reducing the need for costly upgrades to poles and wires. “We need to do that faster, not slower. Otherwise, we’re not going to meet the targets,” he says. Batteries are increasingly part of the picture. NewPower has already invested in storage at Rotohiko and is building new solar farms that are “battery-enabled” so capacity can be added where it makes most sense on the network. David says one of the key questions is how to “load shift” - using batteries to move solar production from the middle of the day, when prices can be depressed, into morning and evening peaks. The company is also focused on how its projects are received in the community. It works closely with Iwi early in the process and looks to involve local contractors where possible, with a focus on long-term relationships. “It’s not just a financial investment. It’s a social investment as well,” David says. Rangimārie will also be grazed by the landowner, with sheep used to manage grass beneath the panels. MaCC is proud to support NewPower Energy with Civil Engineering design services Geotechnical | Civil | Development Geoff 027 434 8745 | www.macc.co.nz | office@macc.co.nz A dedicated power systems consultancy providing specialist support for the connection of renewable energy projects. ergo.co.nz 09 365 9700 reception@ergo.co.nz Our services include: Connection studies – Distribution and Transmission (RMS and EMT) Grid compliance modelling Owners Engineer Services Project Management Services Electrical design of substations and electrical infrastructure Civil/structural design specialising in electrical infrastructure Wide area protection studies and protection design Specialist studies including earthing, lightning and HV cables Commissioning support
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