Tauhei Solar Farm

Harmony Energy New Zealand is part of the Harmony Energy group, one of the UK’s leading developers and owners of battery energy storage systems (“BESS”). The company is developing 10 solar and BESS projects between 70 MWp and 250 MWp, taking projects from conception to commissioning.

www.harmonyenergy.co.uk 

First Renewables role within Clarus is to develop and invest in renewable energy projects, both in renewable gas and electricity, with a view to delivering renewable energy assets to help meet the changing needs of energy consumers across Aotearoa New Zealand. www.clarus.co.nz  

The site was chosen for a number of reasons, including topography, available area, ground conditions and opportunities for ecological and environmental enhancement. Of key importance is the location of the site in proximity to the Waihou Substation, where electricity is able to be dispatched to the National Grid. 

Solar panels convert irradiance (sunlight) received from the sun, into electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. The direct current (DC) electricity generated by the solar panels is converted to alternating current (AC) via an inverter, which connects to site substation.  From there, the electricity is transmitted to the National Grid via the Waihou Substation. 

The solar panels have no moving parts, make no noise and create no harmful emissions.  The inverters on site will produce a slight hum, however these are located away from the external boundaries and very little to no noise will be audible from beyond the site boundaries. 

Solar panels are designed to absorb rather than reflect light and therefore produce very little glare.  Most of the glare that is produced will be screened from roads and neighbours with landscape planting around the boundary of the project site. 

The solar panels on this project will be fixed in place and do not rotate or move. 

During construction and in the early stages of operation some areas of the solar farm will be visible, at a distance, from the surrounding roads.  However, large areas of planting, including along all boundaries of the solar farm, will result in the solar farm being screened from all roads within 5 years.   

The majority of the site will remain in productive farming, transitioning from dairy to sheep farming. The photovoltaic panels will not only generate clean energy, but also provide shelter and shade for the sheep, helping to retain soil moisture in the ground during the hottest months of the year. 

The ability to graze sheep is one of the many advantages of solar energy – it not only supplies clean power, but it can also make farms more productive overall. 

The Tauhei Solar Farm includes extensive ecological planting, including the re-creation and improvement of a wetland, biodiversity planting and riparian planting.  This ecological restoration is expected to result in increased water quality and significant positive gains for native birds and reptiles.  
 

O’Donoghue Road is to be converted into a one-way road during the construction period. Traffic will flow from north to south from McCabe Road through to Waihekau Road.  

Where practicable, heavy vehicle access will avoid peak hours on the road network when accessing the site. The exception to this will be any deliveries from over dimension trucks.  Up to 10 such deliveries of plant and equipment are expected during the construction period.  Pilot vehicles will accompany over dimension vehicles, and the need for any road closures will be confirmed closer to the time.   

A Traffic Management Plan has been prepared for the project and there are strict conditions of consent that we must adhere to in relation to how we use local roads during the construction period.   

All staff car parking is situated within the project site, mainly at the site compound area near O’Donoghue Road. There is also capacity for at least 50 cars to park at each of the laydown areas.  This ensures that there is sufficient space on-site for staff parking without relying on parking on the public road reserve.  

We will keep in touch by email and will send newsletters and other important project information. If you wish to join this list, then please click here

You are also welcome to leave your name, email, phone and physical address at the following link.  This is not a mandatory requirement and will only be used for making direct contact with you if deemed necessary.  Your personal information will not be shared outside of this project.   

Sign up to our neighbours register here

Where practicable, works on-site that could generate significant noise will only occur Monday - Saturday, between the hours of 7:30am and 6:00pm.  Hours may vary depending on the season to maximize sunlight availability. 

On a day-to-day basis, quieter activities may occur outside of these times, in terms of site preparation for the working day, and/or shutting the site down at the end of the day.   

A Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan has been prepared for the project and there are strict conditions of consent that we must adhere to around the amount of noise we can generate and when.   

Trees growing too close to power cables can cause power outages and also create dangers to people.

Keeping trees away from power protects our power supplies and keeps us all safe.

As a property owner, you have responsibilities for ensuring that trees growing on your property are kept clear of both overhead lines and underground cables. 

These responsibilities are set out in the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003.  The regulations:

(a)        Prescribe safe distances between power lines and trees (Growth Limit Zone, Cut Back Zone, and Notice Zone);

(b)        Establish rules for who is responsible for cutting and trimming trees;

(c)        Set out the penalties that parties may face for failing to comply with the Regulations and;

(d)        Outline the process for handling disputes between tree owners and the electricity line owner.

The Regulations apply to tree growth both above and below ground – i.e. both branches and roots. 

To Read more click here 

Property owners are usually responsible for organising approved professionals to trim trees that get too close to power cables. However, after we give notice of a tree that is too close to a power cable, we will cover the cost for the first cut or trim.  Further, if the tree owner declares no interest in the tree, we will cover any future costs associated with maintaining that tree to ensure it is a safe distance from our power cable. A no interest declaration can be made if the tree was naturally sown or planted where the tree owner could not have known that it would grow near the lines. This declaration must be made to us within 10 working days of receiving a first cut or trim notice.  The form for making a no interest declaration will be included with the first cut or trim notice and can be found   here

If you think that we are making excessive noise, then please contact the Community Liaison Officer at tauhei@clarus.co.nz. The complaint will be registered and details such as time, date, nature of the noise, complainant details, action taken in response, and any corrective measures taken.    

A Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan has been prepared for the project and there are strict conditions of consent that we must adhere to around the amount of noise we can generate and when.   

While an extension to the Tauhei Solar Farm is currently being considered, no resource consent has yet been sought or granted.  Any proposal for an extension to the solar farm will need to proceed through the appropriate consenting channels and consultation with neighbours will occur prior to any such consenting process taking place.  

We will keep in touch by email and will send newsletters and other important project information. If you wish to join this list, then please click here 

The construction of the solar farm will be completed in late 2026 – early 2027. 

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are present wherever there is electricity - including in homes, schools and workplaces. They are produced by power cabling, televisions, microwaves, cell phones and many other common household appliances.  The strength of EMF’s decrease rapidly over distance, and following many studies over the past 30 years, the World Health Organisation concluded that there is no evidence to confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.  Nonetheless, we understand that some people may be concerned about EMF’s from the Tauhei Solar Farm.

The electromagnetic fields produced by energy producing solar farm equipment are about the same strength as common household appliances[1]. High Voltage equipment within the solar farm and the cabling connecting the solar farm to the Waihou sub station will be constructed in accordance with guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, being the international guidelines accepted by the World Health Organisation and the New Zealand Ministry of Health, ensuring there are no adverse health impacts. 

[1] Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics | NC State Extension Publications, NC State University, Health and Safety Impacts of Solar Photovoltaics, 2017.