The 220 MW Haldon Station solar farm in New Zealand’s Mackenzie Basin was granted fast-track review, with Lodestone Energy advancing ecological restoration plans. Lodestone Energy, a solar developer headquartered in New Zealand, has received approval for its Haldon Station solar project in Mackenzie Basin under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The project, the first solar facility reviewed by an Expert Panel through this legislation, was approved after more than a year of environmental studies and consultations. The deployment is planned across 320 hectares within Haldon Station’s 22,000-hectare property, located adjacent to transmission infrastructure for efficient grid integration. Lodestone Energy emphasized that the facility was designed to complement nearby hydro generation by preserving lake storage during dry conditions and summer demand peaks. Haldon Station is part of Lodestone Energy’s South Island expansion, which also includes the 27.7 MW Clandeboye project and three operational North Island solar farms.