Prism Earth and ASB Launch NZ-First Mapping Tool for on-Farm Solar
Prism Earth, in partnership with ASB, has launched Power My Farm; an easy-to-use online tool that enables Kiwi farmers to plan and assess solar energy systems tailored to their property.
Available now for free at www.powermyfarm.co.nz, the innovative service is the first of its kind in New Zealand to combine high-resolution mapping and electrical load modelling to deliver personalised solar insights for dairy and sheep & beef farms.
What Power My Farm Offers:
- Energy Calculator: Estimates annual and seasonal electricity use based on farm type and herd size.
- Solar Planner: Pinpoints the best location for solar panels using terrain and sunlight data.
- Financial Insights: Breaks down cost-benefit scenarios and links farmers to trusted SEANZ installers.
- Peak Season Charts: Visualises energy demand, solar generation, and potential excess power.
“By analysing real farm data and industry benchmarks, we’ve built accurate energy profiles for both dairy and sheep & beef systems,” says Matt Lythe, Managing Director of Prism Earth. “We’ve also had our models peer-reviewed by energy experts at DETA to ensure reliability.”
ASB partnered with Prism Earth to fund the development of a practical tool that enables farmers to optimise their land and create genuine business resilience.
“Food and fibre is New Zealand’s largest industry, so if we can support primary producers to save money and reduce emissions, everyone wins,” says ASB General Manager of Rural, Aidan Gent. “Power My Farm puts solar planning in the hands of farmers. They call the shots on their own property; right from their kitchen table. It’s about making informed decisions with clear visuals, financial clarity, and an understanding of the potential environmental impact.”
Armed with this knowledge, ASB’s SMART Solar loan can help farmer bring their plan to life, with five-year zero percent fixed interest on up to $150,000 for rural customers, available until the end of this year.
Power My Farm offers two methods to estimate system size – one based on the shortest payback period, and the other on how well it meets a farm’s energy needs.
“We didn’t model batteries into the calculator, instead the service shows how much excess generation from the solar PV system could be utilised either by shifting non-essential energy use into the solar window or stored in a future battery installation,” says Lythe.
One standout feature is the nationwide solar illumination map, built using aerial LiDAR (aircraft laser). It calculates sunlight exposure across land and rooftops, factoring in terrain and even tree shadows, weather, and panel tilt – all from a simple pin drop on the map.
Farmers can also model energy use for their farmhouse and irrigation systems and see projected emissions savings.
Power My Farm is free to use and designed to help farmers explore solar options, optimise panel placement, and understand the full picture – from energy use to emissions.