Lodestone Energy’s Solar Farm Program

All photos courtesy of Lodestone Energy

Jacobs, acting as Owner’s Engineer for Lodestone Energy, is supporting the development of utility-scale solar farms in New Zealand. The project contributes to the country's low-emissions future by helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase the proportion of renewable energy generation in the network.

New Zealand is on a mission to become a leader in renewable energy, with a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, the country faces significant challenges in balancing increasing energy demand with the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

Lodestone’s bold push into utility-scale solar energy is driving its ambitious decarbonization goals, leveraging ideal geographic conditions and growing investment in renewables. The company is turning sunlight into serious power, and sees solar, alongside wind, as the perfect complement to its strong hydro and geothermal resources. Lodestone Energy, in partnership with Jacobs, is pioneering a new industry that will play a critical role in meeting the nation’s rising energy demands. While solar is not the silver bullet to solve all of New Zealand’s energy challenges, as the lowest cost form of new renewable energy that can be deployed comparatively quickly in a country rich in solar resources, it will play a valuable role accelerating the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy. 

Delivering a more resilient future…

As Lodestone is developing the largest portfolio of utility-scale solar farms in the country with a vision of bringing a solar farm to every community. Its first five farms in the North Island, due to be completed by the end of 2025 will generate ~320GWh of clean renewable electricity annually – capable of powering 50,000 homes.  With another eight projects announced and in planning, the company plans to be contributing 800GWh+ of solar by 2028—and the plans don’t stop there. 

  Lodestone partnered with Jacobs on its Phase 1 farms for our specific expertise in infrastructure design and program management in implementing projects that are not only innovative but also environmentally responsible. 

Since 2020, Jacobs has been a pivotal partner, initially providing site appraisals and geotechnical investigations to determine the feasibility of each site. In 2022, we secured the role of Owner’s Engineer, overseeing the detailed design, construction, and commissioning of Lodestone’s first five solar farms, with comprehensive services spanning consenting, civil, flood, electrical, structural, geotechnical and controls design. Our teams, comprising both local and international specialists with experience in similar projects across Australia, and the wider Asia Pacific region, have been working closely with Lodestone Energy to navigate the complexities of New Zealand’s variable geology and challenging site conditions. Notably, our geotechnical team led a pile testing initiative, validating ground conditions to optimize the final design. 

… and turning challenges into opportunities

Technical complexities and extreme weather conditions including heavy rain and Cyclone Gabrielle, posed significant challenges when constructing Lodestone’s first Kaitaia-based solar farm, Kohirā. Jacobs and Lodestone collaborated to overcome these challenges, optimizing the design and achieving critical milestones.

Lodestone collaborated with Jacobs to overcome these obstacles, optimize the design, and achieve critical milestones. Continuous innovation and adaptability in project management were vital to meet their ambitious timeline.

Jacobs leveraged our extensive global experience in large-scale renewable energy projects, working closely with Lodestone Energy from the project's inception through to completion. Our teams provided a comprehensive range of services across disciplines, including consenting, civil, flood, electrical, structural, geotechnical, and controls design. One of the key innovations that has come out of these projects are modular  33kV containerized substations —developed in collaboration with Lodestone's key partners. This approach allows for the efficient, repeatable delivery of high-quality, factory-tested infrastructure to remote locations, ensuring that the solar farms are not only sustainable but also resilient.

Continuous improvements and innovations with new technologies and site adaptations have positioned Jacobs and Lodestone Energy at the forefront of renewable energy innovation in New Zealand.

Site constraints: 

At the earliest stages of the project, Jacobs provided site appraisals to identify for key constraints across all disciplines.  Our consenting teams utilized a drew on a board range of expertise to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the sites. the sites were fully understood. Given New Zealand's variable geology, extensive on-site  meant that extensive on site geotechnical investigations were conducted required to inform piling and foundation design. 

Flood modelling:

Jacobs’ hydraulic modelling played a crucial role in assessing flood risks at each site under various climate change scenarios. This analysis informed decisions regarding waterways, equipment heights and placement. 

Piling:

Each site required thousands of piles to support the trackers. Our geotechnical team’s analysis provided valuable insights to optimize designs, while our on-site teams validated ground conditions during construction to provide certainty. Looking ahead, Jacobs now offers static and dynamic testing services, which will benefit future projects and clients.

Containerization:

Jacobs worked with Lodestone’s key partners to develop 33kV containerized substations. This innovative solution enables the efficient, and repeatable delivery of high-quality factory tested infrastructure to remote locations, ensuring both efficiency and resilience.

Jacobs’ partnership with Lodestone Energy is more than just a project; it’s a model for the future of renewable energy in New Zealand – and it’s no wonder the project won the “Infrastructure Decarbonisation Award” at the Building Nations Impact Awards in 2024. Clients choose Jacobs for their ability to combine global expertise with local knowledge, delivering innovative solutions that drive sustainability and resilience:

• Innovation: Pioneering new approaches in renewable energy.
• Sustainability: Commitment to eco-friendly practices.
• Leadership: Setting industry standards in renewable energy.