Plans to build a 400MW solar power station on farmland near Taupō will be heard by an independent resource consent commissioner later this month.
Just four submissions were received by the Taupō District Council (TDC) after Todd Generation applied for resource consents to convert an existing 1022ha dairy farm, about 40km from Taupō on State Highway 5, into a solar farm.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump
The proposed solar farm (opposite the Rangitāiki Tavern) would see the installation of approximately 900,000 ground mounted solar panels, along with equipment needed to send power to the national grid, over three stages, phasing out dairy farm operations at each stage over about five years.
At a meeting held on August 31, the TDC appointed resource consent commissioner Bill Walsey to chair the hearing set down for September 21.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump
Todd Generation, under its subsidiary Nova Energy, would bankroll the project and in a statement said – subject to a final investment decision to be made after the consenting process – it proposed to “break ground on the 150MW stage 1 in 2023, with operations commencing approximately 18 months later.”
In his submission against the solar farm, controversial diary farmer Allan Crafar said the New Zealand economy would lose 3000 dairy cows and “at least $30,000,000” annually if the consent was granted.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump
Crafar went on to say that “Chinese solar panels are made using slave labour” and “never, in their useful life, return enough energy to replace the environmental and energy cost of making them”.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump
He said the panels would be an eyesore and a distraction for drivers and only produced intermittent power.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump
In its submission, Waka Kotahi said it was neutral towards the resource consent and “the applicant has recognised the potential for this activity to result in sunlight glare and reflectance, which could have an effect on the safety of road users”.Solar Damper,Lithium battery,Solar tracker actuator,Solar Tracking Controller,NMRV Series Worm Gear Reducer,Planetary gear motor,solar pump