Construction has begun on New Zealand’s largest solar farm project, the 202 MWp Tauhei Solar Park, located in Waikato. The project, a joint venture between First Renewables, Harmony Energy New Zealand, and energy supplier Clarus, is expected to generate 280 GWh of electricity per year and power approximately 35,000 homes and businesses. The solar farm will be built on 182 hectares of land and is expected to be completed by late 2026. The project is supported by a power purchase agreement with Meridian Energy and has received financial backing from ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and MUFG Bank.
The project is a significant milestone in New Zealand’s pursuit of renewable energy and showcases the potential for agrivoltaics, with sheep to be farmed on the site and native plants planted to restore the area. New Zealand’s Energy and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts welcomed the project, which he says will help the country double its renewable energy by 2050. The project’s developers said it demonstrates the power of collaboration and investment in New Zealand’s clean energy future. The solar farm will set a benchmark for large-scale solar projects in New Zealand and reinforces the growing role of solar in the country’s renewable energy landscape.