Press Release – LightYears
Lightyears has announced the start of construction on their 13.5 MW Reefton Solar Farm, marking the companys first development on the West Coast and the beginning of a long-term commitment to the region.
Reefton, the first town in New Zealand to receive a public electricity supply, is once again helping lead the country into a new energy era.
Lightyears has announced the start of construction on their 13.5 MW Reefton Solar Farm, marking the company’s first development on the West Coast and the beginning of a long-term commitment to the region.
The milestone was celebrated this week with an onsite ceremony in partnership with Tier 1 supplier JA Solar, which is supplying nearly 21,000 high-performance solar modules for the Reefton Solar Farm. This marks the third Lightyears project delivered in partnership with JA Solar, with others in Carterton and Waimakariri.
Lightyears specialises in distributed solar and energy projects across New Zealand, with four owned and operated solar farms, the fifth at Reefton now under construction, and more farms expected to break ground later in 2026. At 13.5 MW and spanning 20 hectares, Reefton is Lightyears’ largest solar farm to date.
The company says the West Coast is ideally suited to community-scale solar generation, particularly as the region looks to strengthen energy resilience and support local industry and they are already exploring opportunities for further regional development.
“Building generation in this area helps improve electricity security for West Coast communities and businesses,” says Matt Shanks, Lightyears’ director and co-founder.
“We’re keen to work alongside local industry to better understand future energy needs and support opportunities for electrification and economic growth.”
Lightyears’ solar farms are designed to fit the scale and character of local landscapes. Typically spanning between eight and 20 hectares, the projects are intended to integrate with surrounding land uses while maintaining strong relationships with neighbouring communities.
Alongside construction jobs and ongoing operational roles, the Reefton project is expected to contribute broader economic benefits through improved local electricity supply and potentially reducing the need for significant future network upgrades.
Lightyears has also partnered with Meridian Energy, which will purchase the output from the solar farm under a power purchase agreement (PPA).
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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