The Te Herenga o Te Rā solar farm in the Opotiki district along the Waikato River, supplied by Trina Solar and built by Lodestone Energy, has been connected to the grid. This is the third agri-PV project by Trina Solar and Lodestone Energy,

construction starting in 2023 and completed ahead of schedule at the end of 2024. The project combines clean energy with agriculture, enabling dual land use and providing stable clean electricity locally, marking a significant milestone for agri-PV in New Zealand.

This agri-PV project demonstrates a viable path for New Zealand small-to-medium enterprise owners to integrate agriculture and clean energy. On one hand, farmers can reduce electricity costs by planting crops or raising livestock under solar panels while selling excess power for additional income, improving land use efficiency. On the other hand, project construction and maintenance create business opportunities in solar installation, maintenance, and technical consulting, allowing related SMEs to enter this emerging service sector.

Moreover, the successful cooperation between Chinese and New Zealand enterprises in green energy may spur more policy support and trade facilitation, such as tariff concessions on solar equipment imports or technology collaboration platforms. However, high initial investment and technical adaptation remain challenges; farms need to assess their own conditions. In the long run, this model could become a new engine for sustainable agriculture in New Zealand, driving the development of related industrial chains.

Keywords: Trina Solar, Lodestone Energy, agri-PV, solar grid connection, New Zealand, clean energy, agriculture, cooperation project, Te Herenga o Te Rā

天合光能供货、Lodestone Energy建设的新西兰光伏园Te Herenga o Te Rā在奥波蒂基区怀卡托河沿岸并网发电。该项目是天合光能与Lodestone Energy合作的第三个农光互补项目，自2023年开始建设，于2024年底提前竣工。项目将清洁能源与农业结合，实现土地双重利用，为当地提供稳定清洁电力，标志着新西兰农光互补模式的重要里程碑。

该农光互补项目为新西兰中小企业主展示了农业与清洁能源融合的可行路径。一方面，农场主可通过光伏板下种植或养殖降低用电成本，同时出售多余电力增加收入，提升土地利用率。另一方面，项目建设与运维创造了光伏安装、维护、技术咨询等商业机会，相关中小企业可切入这一新兴服务领域。

此外，中新企业在绿色能源领域的成功合作，可能推动更多政策支持与贸易便利化，例如光伏设备进口关税优惠或技术合作平台。然而，初期投资门槛和技术适配仍是挑战，农场需评估自身条件。长期来看，此类模式有望成为新西兰农业可持续发展的新引擎，带动相关产业链发展。

关键词: 天合光能, Lodestone Energy, 农光互补, 光伏并网, 新西兰, 清洁能源, 农业, 合作项目, Te Herenga o Te Rā

Photo by Zac M-W on Unsplash

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