Local dairy farm Devon Dairies Ltd has been granted resource consent to establish a solar array on its Hāwea Flat property to supply power to the farm.

In its application Devon Dairies said the primary purpose of the solar generation is to power milking sheds, pivot irrigators and for other farm use.

The solar array consists of 1,818 solar panels and will cover an area of approximately 11,000 square metres with 13 rows reaching a height approximately 2.05m above the ground.

In its application Devon Dairies stated the location and the height of the solar array means the solar array will either not be visible or be very difficult to see from outside of the site or from distant viewpoints. 

The solar array will sit above the ground and take up approximately 11,000 square metres.

The array will be visible from a length of approximately 600 metres of the nearby Hāwea River track. 

The landscape assessment that accompanied the consent application concluded “the proposal will create an inconspicuous new element that will not contradict the character of the existing landscape and maintain its values”.

According to the Devon Dairies application the renewable energy source will improve the overall sustainability of the farm; and solar arrays will increasingly form part of the rural character as they become more affordable.

In 2019 Dairy News reported that Woodville dairy farmers Mathew and Suzanne Jackson halved their farms electricity cost after installing a small solar array.

In December 2022, Canterbury-based solar provider Solagri Energy introduced a $10M debt financing facility which is expected to fund approximately 120 solar arrays on farms,

Rural News Group reported.

Solagri chief executive Peter Saunders said the investment comes at a time when farmers are looking at different ways to cut costs and save money and the solar offer gives farmers price stability without increasing debt.

Devon Dairy Farms declined to comment.

PHOTOS: Supplied