February 2022
Lightyears Solar has successfully completed pre-shovel development activities on the proposed 11.8MW Smith Canal Solar Farm on the Ruawai Flats.
The project began in early 2021 and during the development phase the Lightyears Solar team worked with the farm owner on layout options to suit farm operations and to support grazing, prior to entering into a lease agreement. The team gained land use consent and completed the conceptual design stage.
“We’re really proud of the work we did to get Smith Canal to this stage, and we’re excited for the future of solar power in Northland,” says Lightyears Solar development manager, Matt Shanks.
“We’re also grateful for the assistance we received from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise during the development process to help us mature this opportunity.”
The Ruawai Flats site