Meridian Energy has been granted consent by the Northland Regional Council to build a large-scale solar farm in Northland’s Ruakākā region, further solidifying the company’s commitment to renewable energy. The solar farm will occupy 172 hectares across three sites near Marsden Point and is set to house around 250,000 solar panels. Once operational, it is expected to produce up to 200 GWh of electricity annually—enough to power over half of Northland’s households.
The Ruakākā Solar Farm marks the second phase of the Ruakākā Energy Park, which is a much larger initiative that includes a 100 MW battery energy storage system, currently under construction and expected to be operational by early 2025. This infrastructure will help manage and store excess energy generated by renewable sources, ensuring a stable supply during periods of low generation or high demand.
Meridian’s Head of Renewable Development, Rebecca Knott, emphasised that this project will significantly bolster Northland’s energy resilience and sustainable efforts. As the bulk of New Zealand’s electricity is generated in the southern regions, the new solar farm will reduce Northland’s dependency on power from other areas, strengthening the region’s energy security.
The consent, granted by the Northland Regional Council, will allow the solar farm to operate for 35 years. While the project has faced some opposition from local stakeholders, the commissioners overseeing the process deemed that any environmental impacts were mitigated by the measures proposed, including the restoration of nearly 19 hectares of wetland.
For business owners, the new solar farm represents a strategic win for the region. The additional electricity resource could help stabilise energy prices, particularly during peak demand periods, and foster a more reliable local power supply.
Business leaders will no longer worry about operations disruptions and remote workers can work efficiently without the hassle of experiencing power outages since the solar farm is part of a broader plan to increase renewable energy, it also opens up opportunities for businesses looking to lower their carbon footprints by switching to greener energy sources.
The Ruakākā Solar Farm is part of Meridian’s larger $3 billion renewable energy strategy, which aims to meet growing national demand for clean electricity. By 2030, Meridian intends to expand its renewable energy portfolio significantly.
Projects like the Ruakākā Energy Park will be key to achieving New Zealand’s ambitious goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. Increasing the share of renewable energy and becoming more sustainable in the national grid reduces reliance on fossil fuels and supports the country’s broader climate commitments.
