Biggest generator in New Zealand presses go on first solar farm, next to big battery

Meridian Energy, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest electricity generator, has announced that it will proceed with the construction of its first major solar project, to be built next to a big battery currently under construction.

The 130 megawatt (MW) Ruakākā solar farm is set to be built south of Whangārei on the west of the North Island, with construction to start in August after the Meridian Energy board took a final investment decision and approved construction this week.

It will also be located adjacent to Meridian’s 100MW Ruakākā Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which is expected to be fully operational next month, completing Meridian Energy’s Ruakākā Energy Park.

“This project is special,” said Neal Barclay, Meridian CEO.

“Not just because it’s our first solar farm in New Zealand, but because it will add so much to the Northland region in terms of energy resilience, and we’ve seen in recent years how important that is.”

Meridian Energy expects the Ruakākā Solar Farm to deliver first power in the fourth quarter of 2026 and be fully completed in the first quarter of 2027.

The $NZ227 million ($A206 million) project is expected to deliver a levelized cost of energy of $NZ97/MWh and boast a capacity factor of 20.4 per cent – towards the top-end of what previous research has predicted for solar farms in New Zealand.

Meridian’s decision to proceed with the Ruakākā Solar Farm follows hot on the heels of several other milestones in the company’s development pipeline.

New Zealand’s Environment Court granted consent for Meridian Energy’s 90MW Mt Munro Wind Farm near Eketāhuna in northern Wairarapa in February and the announcement of a 50-50 joint venture with Nova Energy Limited to build the 400MW Te Rahui Solar Farm at Rangitāiki near Taupō.

“There is real momentum in our development pipeline,” said Barclay.

“We’re planning a $3 billion investment through to 2030 and expect to commit $1 billion of capital this year alone.”

“We have built a really strong in-house construction team that’s already capable of delivering two projects at once, so with consents lining up we know we’ve got what it takes to get these projects built and delivering more clean energy for our system and customers across Aotearoa.”