Omeheu Solar Farm covers a 30-hectare area of farmland near the town of Edgecumbe, in the Bay of Plenty. It will use the sun’s energy to generate approximately 38MW of clean, renewable electricity each year – that’s enough to power around 6,000 homes. The name Omeheu was gifted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa at a karakia ceremony on site in March 2024, in line with tikanga Māori.
Omeheu will consist of around 63,000 solar panels mounted on galvanised steel structures. The rows of panels will sit in an east/west orientation, similar to a shallow “A” frame roof, with a maximum height of 2.29m from existing ground level. The design means the panels tilting east will harvest more of the morning sun while those tilting slightly west pick up more of the late afternoon sun.
Gaps between the panels and rows means rain will simply run off onto the whenua. Seven inverters will be placed centrally within the site and will have a maximum structure height of 3.2 m.
The perimeter of the solar farm will be fenced and planted with native trees which will screen the farm from most viewpoints over time so the development will have minimal long-term visual impact. We expect the Omeheu Solar Farm to operate for at least 30 years before the panels will be ‘repowered’ to extend their effective use even longer, or they will be replaced and recycled.
Omeheu solar farm is a joint development between Far North Solar Farm, a solar energy asset developer based in Auckland, and Aquila Clean Energy APAC, a clean energy platform headquartered in Singapore. Aquila Clean Energy APAC is part of Aquila Group, a global sustainable investment management and asset development company, based in Hamburg, Germany.
Omeheu is located on farmland on the outskirts of Edgecumbe, in the Bay of Plenty. The site was chosen as it is flat (which is what you want for a solar farm) and it’s also close to the nearby Edgecumbe substation where the electricity can be injected into the national grid before being distributed by the local lines company Horizon Energy.
The site is away from any main arterial routes so will not be visible to general passing traffic. Trees planted around the perimeter of the solar farm will eventually screen it from view from most public viewpoints over time.
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Monday to Friday – 7:00am to 6:00pm, Saturdays – 8:00am to 1:00pm. No work is permitted on Sundays and Public Holidays
Construction workers will follow the traffic requirements that will be outlined in the project’s Traffic Management Plan. We ask that road users and the community abide by traffic management controllers and the approved speed restrictions in place.
We don’t expect there to be any road closures during the project’s delivery.
Water trucks will be used for dust suppression
Construction activity is only necessary for the formation of internal roadways and installing drainage.
Hours of construction and installation activity will take place during the day.
Equipment will move back and forth along the site and noise calculations allow for the times when the equipment is further away from the nearest houses to manage noise impacts.
The solar panels are coated in low-reflective material to minimise reflection of light and are set at low angles to avoid adverse effects of glare.
Landscape planting is proposed on the perimeter of the solar farm where it adjoins neighbouring properties, dwellings, and road boundaries. No landscaping is proposed where planting currently exists on landholdings over which there is an easement.
Major construction will commence Q1 2025 with project completion targeted for Q1 2026.
Piling works are expected to start in Q2 2025.
Modules will be delivered in Q2 2025.
Our EPC contractor Metlen has been assessed for safety suitability through a pre-qualification process. We will ensure Metlen adheres to the site approved Healthy, Safety & Environment (HSE) and emergency management plan through a robust assurance program.
You can contact Metlen Project Administrator, Julie Gardner Julie.Gardiner@metlengroup.com
If you’re interested in finding out about project opportunities, please get in touch with Melten Project Administrator Julie Gardner Julie.Gardiner@metlengroup.com
Melten Site Manager Jimmy Montgomery Jimmy.montgomery@metlengroup.com
Please contact Melten Project Administrator Julie Gardner Julie.Gardiner@metlengroup.com
Please reach out to us via our contact us page.
We have consulted widely with local hapū group Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and enjoy a warm friendship with them. The Solar Farm’s name ‘Omeheu’ was gifted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa at a karakia ceremony on site in March 2024, in line with tikanga Māori.
