About 150 people attended a public meeting in Ranfurly this week to discuss a proposed industrial solar farm.

Renewal energy company Helios has lodged a resource consent application with the Central Otago District Council for a solar farm in the Maniototo.

Monday night's meeting was organised by affected landowner Rose Voice, who was concerned about many of the potential impacts on the environment and land values.

The meeting included Aurora whistleblower Richard Healey who spoke about energy infrastructure and delivery.

“Some people there had such broad knowledge and shared about everything from astro physics to habitual poor behaviour of these giant international companies,” Rose said.

Some residents were concerned the proposal to install half a million (550,810) solar panels and 32 shipping containers of lithium battery storage between Ranfurly and Naseby would turn the landscape into an industrial wasteland.

There was a huge turn out to the meeting, and they ran out of seating, with people standing and sitting on the floor to hear more about the potential impacts, she said.

“Everyone was extremely grateful for all the knowledge that Richard shared. The momentum has grown hugely now, and far and wide.”

The issue was starting to gain national media attention as some members of the small Maniototo community were beginning to put up a fight against the company’s proposal.

It was also gaining attention from people living in other parts of the country as well.

Canterbury dairy farmer Rob Keith contacted The Central App to share his view about some of the huge risks, including fire, saying the batteries used onsite could burst into flames at any time.

“The panels themselves only have a life of 20 to 25 years of life if that and they are made of toxic material that at this point is difficult to recycle, and I do not think it can be done in New Zealand,” he said

“I would also just like to add that I am all for change so long as it is going to be better than what we have at present, but from what I have read about the alternatives we are going to have some big problems in 20 to 30 years time.”

Rose was about to launch a national petition against solar farms, and her group fighting against it had offers of help from planners and policy writers, all wanting to donate their time, she said.

Covering 660ha - several times bigger than the town of Ranfurly itself - Helios was a New Zealand company established in early 2020 when the founders recognised the potential for grid-scale solar developments to make a positive contribution to the existing New

Zealand energy mix. 

Helios believes large-scale solar generation would make a meaningful and rapid contribution to New Zealand’s goal of reaching 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2030, and would democratise the country’s energy market to help deliver a more secure and

affordable energy supply for the country. 

The application sought resource consent to construct, operate and maintain an approximately 300MWac photovoltaic solar farm, and associated infrastructure including battery energy storage, substation and transmission line infrastructure for renewable electricity

generation.

Submissions on the proposal close on December 19.

Have a story to share?

Contact [email protected]