Forest Lodge Orchard – harvesting the power of the sun

A sun-powered system 

Forest Lodge hasn’t just adopted solar technology — the team has built an entire farming operation around it. The transformation started not with ambition, but necessity. 

“We had a diesel water pump explode in our first season,” says Euan White, orchard manager and co-owner. “That kicked off a chain reaction — if we’re going electric, let’s power it with solar. If we’ve got solar, let’s store the energy. From there, it just snowballed.” 

From the start the orchard was designed with energy efficiency and more electrification in mind, giving the team a unique opportunity to size the solar system for total seasonal demand. 

“Most farms retrofit solar to run their cool store or offset irrigation. We said… what if solar could do everything?” 

The orchard runs a 160 kW solar PV system paired with 300 kWh of battery storage. It’s the beating heart of their operation, fueling: 

• Orchard management — Fully electric 40 hp tractor (driver-optional), electric mowers, and platforms.
• Irrigation — Electric pumps powered directly by solar during daytime.
• Frost protection — Two electric frost fans with peak draw supported by grid.
• On the move — Electric transport vehicles, forklifts, and trucks.
• In the shed — Lighting, monitoring, and visitor services all grid-independent during daylight hours.

Each component was selected or retrofitted to ensure compatibility with 100% electric operation. 

The benefits of solar on farm 

The financial and operational returns have been significant — with the running costs for key farming operations plummeting.  

One example is the orchard’s approach to frost fighting, a fairly energy-intensive task in Central Otago. “Our electric frost fans cost about $1 an hour to run,” White says. “Compare that to $150-$200 per hour for diesel versions — it’s not even close.” 

This single change saves tens of thousands of dollars annually, while also eliminating the logistical headache of transporting and storing diesel.  

The entire farm's irrigation system - previously a major fuel sink — is now virtually free to operate. Forest Lodge produces twice the electricity they use annually. This means excess energy is exported back to the grid, generating an additional revenue stream. “We irrigate when it’s hot and sunny,” says White. “Exactly when the solar panels are pumping out power. It just makes so much sense.” 

Add in reduced maintenance — an electric golf cart has cost less than $100 in five years — and the ability to charge many vehicles from standard wall sockets, and the return on investment becomes clear.

Future farming 

Forest Lodge co-founder Mike Casey says the orchard’s solar set up not just as a technical achievement — it was also about setting the farm up for the future. 

“We’re in a remote location. Getting diesel deliveries in winter isn’t guaranteed. Plus, we know carbon costs are only going one way. Electrification is a long-term hedge.” 

“We’re not special growers,” Casey says. “We follow the same techniques. What’s different is how we power everything.” 

And it’s a scalable vision. The infrastructure they’ve implemented — solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles — is becoming more accessible and cost-effective each year. 

“You don’t need to start with everything we have,” says White. “Start with a wall socket and one EV. Get the bug. Scale up.” 

“We've proven that everything a traditional orchard can do, we can do better — with less noise, and lower costs,” White says. “We have never lacked power availability for any critical operation.” 

Looking ahead 

Forest Lodge’s model is now drawing attention from across the sector — and beyond. 

“We get calls from other growers every week,” says White. “They’re not just asking if it works. They’re asking how soon they can do it.” 

“This isn’t a moonshot. We’re just a cherry orchard in Otago showing what’s possible with what’s already out there. And it’s working.”