Somerton farmer adds solar income to sheep grazing

A sheep farmer in Somerton is leasing part of his land for a solar farm that will generate power for a major dairy cooperative.

Bruce Wild has farmed just north of Ashburton for three decades. He is working with ANZA Power, a developer and operator based in Australia and New Zealand. Wild is leasing 148 hectares of his property to the company. This will be ANZA's first solar farm built in New Zealand. The company is part of I Squared Capital, a global infrastructure investor.

Wild cited changing conditions in arable farming as the reason for the move. He said he can no longer grow peas for Watties. He also noted that grass seed production is limited to specific areas. Wild stated that he needed to find other ways to farm. He is not a dairy farmer and believes there are enough dairy operations in the region. A rural property agent told him about interest in solar development in the area. Wild said he learned he could keep running stock under the panels. He agreed to the lease because it allows him to use the ground for farming while earning a second income.

Carlo Frigerio, chief executive of ANZA, spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday. He said the project will deliver 42 megawatts of solar generation capacity. The site design includes space for a future battery storage system. Frigerio said this allows for expansion without major rework. The company plans to have the farm operational and connected to the EA Network grid by early 2028.

Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan attended the ceremony. She supports renewable energy development in the district. McMillan said Canterbury is an ideal location because of long daylight hours and flat terrain. She noted that grazing underneath the panels helps diversify the local economy. Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua upoko Tewera King performed a karakia at the event. He concluded with a waiata about planting food like kumara. King said this is the right time to plant the solar farm.

ANZA has signed a power purchase agreement with Fonterra. The dairy cooperative will buy 80 percent of the electricity generated in Somerton. The farm is located between Fonterra's Darfield and Clandeboye manufacturing sites. ANZA is also developing two other sites in the Selwyn District. These include the 100 megawatt Norwood Solar Farm and the 70 megawatt Highfield Solar Farm at Charing Cross. Fonterra also has a separate agreement with NZ Clean Energy. That company is developing a 129 megawatt solar and storage project near its Darfield factory. Sheep grazing will continue on that 148-hectare site after construction.

Somerton will be the fourth major solar farm in the Ashburton District. The first was a joint venture between Genesis Energy and FRV Australia in Lauriston. Lightyears Solar, Ecotricity, and RCR Green built an eight-hectare farm south of Ashburton. A third project is underway near Mount Somers. Lodestone Energy is building a 35-hectare farm on land leased from Duncan Humm. Humm has leased part of his family's 150-hectare dryland farm for the project.