Joint venture signed to build biggest solar farm in New Zealand to date

Building on recent momentum to kick start a lagging utility-scale solar industry, a new solar farm near Te Aroha on the North Island has been announced which, upon completion in 2026, will be New Zealand’s largest.

Global renewable energy infrastructure developer Harmony Energy Limited has entered into a joint venture with First Renewables, part of New Zealand energy group Clarus, to develop and own what will be – at least for a time – the biggest solar farm in the country.

The 150MW Tauhei solar project will be built on 182 hectares near Te Aroha in the Waikato region of New Zealand, and will consist of approximately 330,000 solar panels and is expected to generate over 270GWh each year.

The project is still subject to obtaining necessary consents and approvals, but if it goes ahead, Harmony Energy expects the complete construction and commissioning in 2026, at which point it will supply power for the equivalent needs of around 35,000 New Zealand homes.

A final investment decision is expected to be taken by the two companies later this year, with construction also expected to get under way this year.

Harmony Energy director Peter Grogan said the project will create opportunities for local businesses, employment and deliver significant biodiversity gains, and will allow for continued farming production.

The buildout of utility-scale solar has been slow in New Zealand, with the country’s first utility scale solar farm only completed in November of 2023.

This latest announcement comes only days after New Zealand power company Genesis Energy and joint venture partner FRV Australia announced that they have reached financial close on a 63MW solar farm to be built at Lauriston on the Canterbury Plains.

Genesis and FRV Australia are also in the process of assessing three sites on New Zealand’s North Island which would add up to a combined capacity of up to 400MW.