After much development and planning, work on the 20MWp Pukenui Solar Farm on Lamb Road is finally getting underway.

Local businesses are working with Photon Energy, the lead contractor responsible for building the solar farm, and will begin earthworks and trenching for electrical cables throughout the 19-hectare site.

In March, members of the development team recently spent time with local community representatives and met with neighbours to talk about the build process and set up systems to ensure lines of communication were in place.

A focus of the discussions was appropriate traffic management and speed to ensure safety during peak school times and for all road users along Lamb Road.

Mana whenua also carried out karakia for the site and gave their blessing to all who work there.

“It’s really important that we make sure the construction process doesn’t negatively impact the community and through the discussions we’ve had with locals so far, and the relationships we’ve been able to make, we’re confident we have the right systems in place to make sure everything goes smoothly,” FNSF Communications Manager Greg Hay says.

Photon Energy will manage day to day operations throughout the build, which is expected to take around 12 months. Deliveries of materials required for the solar farm will be strictly managed to take place between Mon – Fri 7:30am – 5:30pm & Sat 7:30am – 2:00pm, in line with resource consent conditions.

The solar panels themselves will be mounted on galvanised steel structures, which will be supported by driven galvanised steel piles. The panels will be stationary on a fixed east to west tilt – like a shallow ‘A’ frame roof – with the apex 1.6m above the ground and the lower edge 800mm. At full power the solar farm will be able to create enough renewable electricity to power around 2,000 homes.

The site was specifically chosen because it is flat and located right next to the Pukenui substation.

The perimeter of the solar farm will be fenced and planted with trees and native vegetation, which will screen the farm from most viewpoints over time, ensuring the site will have minimal long-term visual impacts.

Mana whenua karakia Monday 22 April 2024.

Representatives from Aquila, Far North Solar Farm, and Photon meet with stakeholders in Pukenui Wednesday 6 March 2024.