Lodestone Energy’s Kohirā Solar Farm in Kaitaia. This image depicts a two-in-portrait solar panel configuration which differs from the smaller one-in-portrait design planned for Clandeboye.
Harnessing the sun to power South Canterbury:
Lodestone teams up with Alpine Energy
Media release
16 June 2025
Clandeboye will soon be home to South Canterbury’s first large-scale solar farm, and Lodestone Energy’s first solar project in the South Island. Once operational, the farm will generate ~43 gigawatt hours of clean electricity each year, enough to power the equivalent of over 6,000 homes. Construction starts in June 2025, and first power is expected by winter 2026.
Local lines company Alpine Energy is enabling the connection of the site to the region’s electricity network.
Caroline Ovenstone, Alpine’s Chief Executive, says: “We’re proud to connect Lodestone's large-scale solar generation to our network. It's a first for Alpine. There are around 1,000 household-scale solar connections on our network, demonstrating how customers are generating and using electricity and our network differently”.
The Clandeboye site will be built on 42 hectares of leased farmland, with sheep grazing and native planting used to manage the land and reduce visual impact. The project will feed electricity directly into the local grid at Temuka.
“Canterbury has great sun, flat land and strong electricity demand – it’s the right place for solar,” says Gary Holden, Managing Director of Lodestone Energy. “We’re pleased to start our South Island journey here.”
To help the community get to know Lodestone and understand what this project means for our region, we’ve put together this short Q&A.
Welcome to South Canterbury! Tell us a little bit about Lodestone Energy – who are you and what’s your purpose?
Lodestone:
Lodestone Energy was established in 2019 with a clear goal to make solar a core part of the country’s energy mix, supporting New Zealand to achieve its net-zero 2050 goal. Our team is working hard to bring a new source of clean, affordable, renewable electricity to local communities across Aotearoa — adding solar where it makes sense and supporting the national shift to a more sustainable power system.
We’re developing a network of large-scale solar farms that are right-sized, in the right places and delivering them at pace! Clandeboye is our first South Island project, and we’re proud to begin that journey here in South Canterbury with Alpine Energy as our network partner and Ethical Power as our principal construction partner.
Why did you choose Clandeboye for your first South Island solar farm?
Lodestone:
Canterbury has the ideal mix of high sunshine hours and electricity demand. With irrigation, manufacturing and strong rural communities, it’s a place where solar really works. Clandeboye is a nicely sized farm (28-megawatt peak), that enables us to get our feet on the ground, test the model, and build up new partnerships. It gives us a strategic base in the South Island, and we’re pleased to begin our South Island journey here.
What will the solar farm actually do – and what’s the benefit for our region?
Lodestone:
Once operational, the Clandeboye farm will generate enough electricity to power thousands of homes each year. It will strengthen the local grid; help meet rising electricity demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Construction of the farm itself, which will include over 45,000 solar panels and millions of parts, will deliver economic value and create local job opportunities. There is also value in the long-term lease on the land, which offers a stable income stream to the landowner and ongoing grazing opportunities – even the sheep get a job!
What’s Alpine Energy’s role in this?
Alpine Energy:
We own and operate the electricity distribution network across South Canterbury – we’re the local lines company that makes sure power gets from the source to your home, farm or business. Lodestone’s solar farm will connect directly to our network, so we’ve worked closely with them to plan how best to bring this new renewable energy into our system. It’s part of our ongoing role in enabling cleaner energy options for our region.
What makes this partnership work?
Alpine Energy:
It’s a great values fit – both companies are committed to regional growth, sustainable energy, and working with the community. Lodestone brings deep expertise in solar and project delivery, and we bring the local knowledge and network integration to make it work on the ground.
Why solar – and why now?
Lodestone:
New Zealand is growing, and so is our demand for electricity. In 2024, MBIE released a report suggesting electricity demand could grow anywhere between 55-80% by 2050. Solar is one of the fastest, most affordable, low-impact ways to add new generation, especially in sunny regions like Canterbury. It also supports energy security by adding a new source of supply and spreading generation across the country, reducing reliance on hydro lakes when rainfall is low.
What’s next after Clandeboye?
Lodestone:
Clandeboye is just the start of our South Island journey. We’re actively developing more sites across the island. We believe every community can benefit from solar energy – whether that’s lower-cost electricity, stronger grid resilience, or local investment in the low-carbon future.
Any final thoughts for locals?
Lodestone:
We’re excited to be here and committed to delivering a quality project that complements the region's agricultural activities. Once operational, the farm, which uses very little water and makes minimal noise, will continue to be used for sheep grazing. A boundary of native plantings will minimise the visibility of the farm at ground level.
Projects like these succeed when there is local support, transparency, and genuine benefit for all parties involved. As with our North Island projects, we welcome community interest and are happy to share our knowledge with those wishing to learn more about our solar farms.
We look forward to sharing more as the project progresses – and seeing South Canterbury lead the way in renewable energy.
For more information, visit: www.lodestoneenergy.co.nz/clandeboye