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The rapid expansion of New Zealand solar farms is opening a wider discussion about how renewable energy projects should coexist with agricultural production, particularly when developments are planned on highly productive farmland.
While support for renewable energy remains strong, farming representatives are questioning whether large-scale solar projects are increasingly competing with land traditionally used for food production, creating concerns similar to those previously associated with forestry conversions.
According to Gareth Williams, Chief Operating Officer of the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand, the country currently has around 350 hectares of operational solar farms, with an additional 2,000 hectares already consented for development. He also estimates that approximately 10,000 hectares are under consideration by solar developers, although not all of those projects are expected to proceed.
The expansion extends beyond utility-scale projects. Rooftop solar installations now cover more than 3% of New Zealand homes, reflecting broader growth in renewable energy generation.
Government policy has supported that momentum by streamlining planning and consenting processes for solar and wind projects as part of its objective to double renewable electricity generation by 2050.
According to the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, solar farms currently contribute between 1% and 2% of New Zealand’s electricity generation. That share is projected to increase to between 6% and 12% by 2035. Wind energy, which currently provides around 6% of national electricity, is expected to reach approximately 20% by 2035, according to the New Zealand Wind Energy Association.
As renewable energy projects expand, Federated Farmers says greater attention should be given to where developments are located.
Board member Mark Hooper argues that many of the proposed solar developments are being established on Class 1 and Class 2 farmland, areas regarded as highly productive for agriculture. While acknowledging that the total land area involved remains relatively limited, he says the location of these projects has become a growing concern for rural communities.
According to Hooper, the issue extends beyond individual landowners who may choose to lease or sell property for energy developments. He says neighboring farms can experience changes to landscape values, while communities also raise questions about the long-term availability of productive farmland.
Federated Farmers supports renewable energy projects but favors smaller-scale installations that serve individual farms, homes or are developed on land with lower agricultural value.
Those concerns have become particularly visible in Taranaki, where a 450-hectare dairy farm adjacent to the Stratford Power Station is scheduled to be converted into a solar farm next year. Federated Farmers’ Taranaki chair, Nick Brown, said neighboring residents have expressed concerns regarding the visual impact of the project and potential fire risks, while calling for greater community involvement in planning decisions.
Industry developers, however, present a different perspective.
Richard Pearce, Chief Operating Officer of Lodestone Energy, said the company aims to supply 5% of New Zealand’s energy needs. Lodestone currently operates four solar farms, has two more under construction—including one on a former dairy farm in Clandeboye, South Canterbury—and plans to develop four additional sites.
Pearce said site selection is largely determined by practical considerations, including flat terrain and proximity to the electricity grid. He also noted that sheep grazing beneath solar panels allows agricultural activity to continue by managing vegetation on the sites.
According to Pearce, communities have generally responded positively to solar developments, provided projects are designed to integrate appropriately with their local surroundings.
The debate is also expanding beyond solar energy.
Federated Farmers says similar concerns have emerged around the development of larger wind farms, particularly as advances in turbine technology increase maximum tip heights from around 145 metres to 180 metres or more.
Among the 16 renewable energy projects currently included in the government’s fast-track approval process, seven are solar developments located across Canterbury, Waikato, Manawatū-Whanganui, Taranaki and Auckland, covering approximately 1,400 hectares. The same process also includes six proposed wind farms, with projects planned for Waikato, Otago and Manawatū-Whanganui.
As renewable energy investment accelerates, the discussion is increasingly shifting toward how New Zealand can expand electricity generation while balancing the long-term role of productive farmland and the interests of rural communities.
Produced by eDairyNews, with information published by Farmers Weekly.
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