Meridian gets consent for 110MW solar farm in New Zealand

Project will feature around 230,000 solar panels across 134 hectares.

Meridian Energy has received consent to build a 110MW solar farm near Morrinsville, Waikato, as the company expands its renewable energy pipeline in New Zealand.

The Morrinsville Solar Farm will feature around 230,000 solar panels across a 134-hectare site and is expected to generate up to 200GWh of electricity annually, enough to power more than 25,000 average Kiwi homes.

The site, located 2km east of Morrinsville and 600m south of the Piako substation, will connect to the national grid. The consent also allows for future electricity storage through a distributed battery energy storage system.

Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan said the project will support New Zealand’s energy supply and create economic benefits through local jobs and spending.

The solar farm is expected to create more than 100 local construction jobs and contribute tens of millions of dollars in local expenditure if built. Following construction, the project is expected to create four to five permanent jobs.

The project will also include habitat and waterway improvements, native riparian planting, and sheep grazing alongside the solar panels to maximise land productivity. Screen planting will be used to reduce visual impacts.

“We know that New Zealanders want reliable and affordable electricity supply, and that’s what makes developments like this so important,” said Roan. “Harnessing more electricity from the sun means we can hold more water in our hydro lakes for when it’s needed most.”

Meridian also plans to invest around $3b through 2030 to develop new renewable energy projects and strengthen New Zealand’s electricity supply.

The Morrinsville Solar Farm remains subject to a final investment decision by the Meridian Board. If approved, construction could begin in 2028 and take around two years to complete.