09 Feb Turning A Low-Value Paddock Into A Reliable Income Stream
Turning a low-value paddock
into a reliable income stream
For Central Hawke’s Bay sheep & beef farmer Tim Gilbertson, installing solar was a practical business decision.
It offered a way to reduce risk, create a more consistent income stream, and make better use of land that wasn’t delivering strong returns.
With multiple pumps, housing, sheds, and fencing across the farm, electricity demand was high and costs were unpredictable. Like many farmers, Tim was looking for a solution that could sit alongside farming and provide more certainty over time.
Making better use of his land
Instead of planting pine trees or leaving land underutilised, Tim installed a ground-mounted solar array on a low-productivity paddock. The land remains fully grazable, while also generating renewable electricity that is fed directly into the grid.
The setup works with the farm, not against it. Stock gain shelter and shade, pasture growth has improved, and normal farm operations continue uninterrupted.
Consistent returns
The solar system provides a steady, predictable income stream that helps balance the ups and downs of farming. Solar has effectively become another productive output from the farm, delivering diversification and greater financial resilience.
There is also flexibility built into the system. During the irrigation season, part of the solar generation can be used on-farm to reduce reliance on diesel-powered pumping, creating further opportunities to manage costs.
Built by people who understand rural infrastructure
Tim has worked with Isaac’s Plumbing, Pumping and Electrical for many years across pumping and water infrastructure, so engaging the team for solar was a natural fit.
From planning through to installation, the project was delivered efficiently and professionally. Coordination across contractors was well managed, timelines were met, and the finished system was built to a high standard.
Leading by example
Since the system went live, interest from other farmers and the wider community has grown. Seeing a working installation in place has helped make the numbers tangible and shown how solar can be integrated into a working farm without compromising productivity.
For rural properties with suitable land and grid access, this project demonstrates how solar can provide a practical, financially sound addition to an existing farm operation.
Thinking about solar on your farm, orchard or home?
Tim’s experience reflects a broader shift already underway across rural New Zealand.
Entrepreneur and Central Otago cherry orchardist Mike Casey has shown how electrifying orchard equipment and generating electricity can significantly reduce operating costs and cut reliance on diesel. As CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, Mike has helped lead research showing New Zealand has reached an electrification tipping point, where electric options are now cheaper than fossil-fuel alternatives over their lifetime, even when finance is factored in.
For farms, orchards, or even homes solar can reduce energy costs, improve resilience, and create new income by exporting electricity back into the grid when demand is high.
If you’re considering solar on your property, talk to the team at Isaac’s Plumbing, Pumping, and Electrical. We’ll help you understand whether it makes sense for your operation and what a fit-for-purpose system could look like.
Get in touch today.