Meridian secures consent to build solar farm in Morrinsville

Monday, 27 July 2026

The development at a site near Morrinsville is part of a larger investment by Meridian into new renewable energy projects to help get power prices under control.

Solar power looks to be coming to Morrinsville after the country’s largest electricity generator secured consent to build a solar farm on the town’s outskirts.

Meridian Energy is planning to construct a 110 megawatt Morrinsville Solar Farm, which would house around 230,000 solar panels capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 25,000 average Kiwi homes a year.

The 134 hectare site is 2km east of Morrinsville and 600m south of the Piako substation, where the solar farm would connect to the national grid. The consent also allows for electricity storage in the future through a distributed battery energy storage system.

If built, Meridian expected the Morrinsville Solar Farm would contribute tens of millions of dollars to local spending (file photo).

The development is part of a larger investment by Meridian into new renewable energy projects the company says is to help get power prices under control.

In a statement, Meridian chief executive Mike Roan said New Zealanders wanted a reliable and affordable electricity supply.

“Harnessing more electricity from the sun means we can hold more water in our hydro lakes for when it’s needed most. ”

Meridian chief executive Mike Roan said New Zealanders wanted a reliable and affordable electricity supply, and the Morrinsville Solar Farm would provide a boost.

“Meridian has a big role to play in building the new capacity New Zealanders are asking for, which is why we’re planning to invest around $3 billion through to 2030 to add more new renewable energy projects, further strengthen New Zealand’s electrical supply, and stay ahead of the growing demand for electricity.”

Roan said it was great to have received a green light for the Morrinsville development.

“This solar farm is one of a large number of projects that we have in our development pipeline that’ll help boost the country’s energy supply and help bring prices down. Each of these projects will also provide a valuable boost for local economies through new jobs and local spend.”

If built, Meridian expected the Morrinsville Solar Farm would contribute tens of millions of dollars to local spending. The project would also create about 100 local construction jobs, with four to five permanent jobs created following the site’s completion.

To maximise land productivity, sheep grazing would take place alongside the solar panels and screen planting would minimise any visual disturbance caused by the site.

The project is still dependent on a final investment decision by Meridian Energy’s board. If approved, construction could begin in 2028 and is expected to take two years.