Frequently Asked Questions

Marton has a lot going for it when considering solar generation:

• Marton has great solar irradiation (similar to sunshine hours).
• Transpower’s high voltage 220kV transmission lines run through the area.
• Generally flat land.
• Easy access to State Highway 1 for construction deliveries.
• Progressive district and regional councils that promote growth and infrastructure resilience (like energy infrastructure).

The proposed 400ha solar farm has the potential to power the equivalent of approximately 55,000 homes, or to power approximately 250,000 electric vehicles.

The proposed facility will consist of solar panels arranged in rows around 5m apart, with grass growing underneath. There will also be other electricity related equipment such as inverters and transformers, with most cabling located underground.

A new substation and battery energy storage system will be located near the middle of the site to export renewable electricity into the national grid lines running overhead.

FRV is currently engaging with the community ahead of lodging the resource consent application late 2026.

Ecological, visual, noise, glare and stormwater studies will help inform the final layout, with the aim of minimising potential impacts on the environment and local community.

The project will add more renewable electricity to the national grid. As we electrify our economy and our demand for electricity grows, projects like this will help households and businesses to decarbonise.

Having an economy underpinned by renewable energy helps our exporters to compete in the global market with low carbon products (meat, dairy, wool, honey).

Adding more low-cost electricity (like solar) to the network also puts downward pressure on electricity prices for kiwis.

New solar generation enhances the flexibility and resilience of our energy system by complimenting existing hydro and wind generation, effectively saving water in our hydro lakes until it’s needed in the middle of winter and we don’t need to burn gas or coal to get through.

Construction noise is likely to be limited to 7:30am – 6:00pm Monday to Saturday, or as directed by Rangitīkei District Council.

Technical assessments are being undertaken to check that proposed construction noise and vibration will comply with the relevant standards.

Solar farms generally do not create significant levels of noise.

Some solar farm components, such as the inverters, the battery energy storage system (BESS) and the substation do produce some noise. FRV generally locates these as far away from property boundaries as practicable in order to internalise any noise.

FRV is undertaking noise modelling to understand how the solar farm can be designed to comply with relevant noise standards.

There is a lot of existing vegetation along the boundaries which will largely be retained and will partially screen the solar farm.

FRV intends to plant a combination of additional continuous and pocket vegetation along the boundaries that do not already have vegetation in order to help break up views of the solar farm.

FRV is also investigating riparian planting along the larger overland flow paths to enhance ecological outcomes as well as break up views of the solar farm.

Yes. Many homes, businesses, airports, schools and hospitals have solar panels on their roofs.

However, solar farms are ‘live’ electrical systems, so the FRV staff who operate our solar farms are trained in order to keep themselves safe when working in and around solar panels, similar to an electrician working on the wiring in your home.