Generating · Waingawa / Masterton
Carterton 1
- Size
- 4.71 MW
- Network
- Powerco
- Completion date
- 2025 Q1
Carterton 1 is a community-scale solar farm with 4.7 MW of capacity. It began generating power in early 2025.
The solar farm covers six hectares of an existing 12-hectare rural lifestyle farm in the Wairarapa and it produces enough energy to power approximately 1000 homes.
The site contains thousands of solar panels that track the movement of the sun across the day, producing clean electrical energy for the needs of the local district, including powering irrigation pumps through the summer months.
The farm helps offset electricity from fossil fuels imported into the Wairarapa region.
Designed with agrivoltaics in mind, the design features increased row spacing and elevated panel heights, enabling ongoing agricultural activities beneath and around the solar arrays. This approach supports continued grazing and pasture management alongside energy production.
