Stewart Island Solar Power Project A Game Changer

Solar power is on its way to Stewart Island and Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says she’s delighted that the community will benefit from this exciting project both financially and environmentally.

A $15.35 million suspensory loan, from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, will see the first stage of a new solar farm and network upgrade on Stewart Island begin this year – in a tremendous step forward for local people.

The island’s high-cost diesel energy generation has had its day – with this new environmentally sustainable supply fantastic for local people and for the many tourists who visit the island. It will reduce diesel consumption by 200,000 litres within two years of beginning and massively cut energy costs for local people.

This really is a game changer for Stewart Island, and its 494 permanent electricity connections, taking energy generation into the future, and enabling a more reliable and most importantly, affordable electricity supply - that is renewable and fits with the conservation values of the Stewart Island community.

This project will require 40 skilled workers during construction and once complete, will support local economic growth through tourism, hospitality and aquaculture.

Stewart Island has great potential for growth and this project secures that future progress.

It also underpins the Coalition Government’s objective of doubling renewable energy generation by 2035 and is one of three projects nationally to receive loans of up to $28.1 million combined from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The other projects are in Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.