It will be Lodestone Energy’s first South Island solar project.
The Clandeboye solar farm will generate 43GWh of renewable electricity annually and will be similar in scale to the company’s sites at Kaitaia, Edgecumbe, Whitianga, and Waiotahe.
Generation is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
This addition will be Lodestone’s fifth plant under way in the five years since inception.
Lodestone’s decision to select Clandeboye as its next site to develop is to ensure it can serve its growing customer base in the South Island.
In a statement, Lodestone managing director Gary Holden said adding new generation at this pace was "a crucial part of our vision to ensure New Zealand has a solar farm in every community".
"We are committed to ensuring customers in all regions will have access to low cost, renewable energy, and solar is the perfect way to complement the existing South Island hydro resources."
Mr Holden said Canterbury was the ideal location for solar because "there is plenty of sunshine, and it fits well with the electricity demand for irrigation and milk production".
In addition to Clandeboye, Lodestone has previously announced four more sites have been granted consent and five others are in the planning and consenting process.
The company recently completed a $50million capital raise and is continuing its successful partnership with Westpac, increasing its banking facilities to support its expansion plans.
As demand for electricity grew, increased solar production was expected to bring down electricity prices and would play a crucial role in stabilising energy supply during low rainfall periods across the grid, Mr Holden said.
"We are planning to add a number of South Island sites over the next couple of years. Electrification of industrial boilers and the growing interest in electric cars will mean new generation will be needed for many years to come. Customers seeking a low-cost hedge against rising power prices is a compelling reason to build as quickly as we can," he said.
For the Clandeboye project, Lodestone has partnered with Ethical Power, a proven renewable energy engineering, procurement and construction service provider, with established operations in New Zealand.
Managing director Matt Rowe said Ethical Power New Zealand was "proud to partner with a company that is making great progress in the renewable energy sector and is aligned on the potential value solar can deliver to New Zealand".
"Our international construction experience alongside Lodestone’s local market experience makes for a strong partnership."
Lodestone is leasing 42ha from Clearwater Farm for this project, which would be responsible for providing natural vegetation management on the site through grazing of sheep.
The project will include a native planting buffer along the perimeter to provide natural visual screening.
The site will be connected to the Alpine Energy distribution network.
— APL
