New Zealand’s biggest solar farm to date is now live with Harmony Energy and joint venture partner Igneo Infrastructure Partners announcing that the 150 MW Tauhei Solar Farm on the North Island has been successfully energised and is now exporting electricity into the national grid.
Harmony Energy New Zealand Managing Director Garth Elmes said the energisation milestone has been achieved “well ahead of schedule,” coming 15 months after construction started and just two months after the last of almost 330,000 solar panels was installed.
“We are excited to have reached this significant milestone,” he said. “The Tauhei Solar Farm is an important project that will bolster the supply of affordable renewable energy.”
The milestone also marks a significant step in New Zealand’s solar journey with the 150 MW Tauhei project, built across a 182-hectare site near Hamilton in the North Island’s northeast, the largest solar farm to be constructed and connected to the country’s electricity market to date.
It overtakes the 47 MW Lauriston Solar Farm developed by New Zealand government-backed energy utility Genesis and joint venture partner FRV Australia near Christchurch on the South Island.
Harmony said the Tauhei project will now undertake several months of testing and commissioning as the output is increased to the full plant capacity of 150 MW (202 MWp). Commercial operations are expected by October 2026, about four months ahead of schedule. Once operational, it will generate an estimated 280 GWh of renewable electricity per year, enough to power approximately 35,000 homes.
The facility is supported by a power purchase arrangement (PPA) with gentailer Meridian Energy, which has signed a deal to purchase 100% of the output for the first 10 years of operation. Meridian will also purchase early generation prior to full operation under a separate PPA.
In addition to solar energy output, Harmony said the majority of the site will remain in productive farming, switching from dairy to sheep farming. The panels will provide shelter and shade for the sheep, while also helping to retain moisture in the ground during the hottest months of the year.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
Thursday, July 30, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Thursday, July 16, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm AEST, Sydney
The June issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
Thursday, October 7, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Entries open in seven categories: Modules, Inverters, BoS, BESS, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Projects.
April 01 – August 31, 2026
You have no items in your basket.
