Meridian Energy's 130 megawatt Ruakākā solar farm in Northland is set to begin construction in August 2025.
The project, which is the company's first solar farm in New Zealand, received final investment decision and construction approval from the Meridian board.
The $227 million solar farm will feature 250,000 solar panels and has the capacity to produce up to 230GWh of electricity per year, enough to power around half of the homes in Northland.
It is located next to Meridian's 100MW Ruakākā battery energy storage system.
Meridian's chief executive, Neal Barclay, said the project would enhance energy resilience in the Northland region and contribute to New Zealand's energy supply.
The company has plans for $3b of investment through to 2030 and expects to commit $1b of capital this year.
Meridian has awarded construction and operations and maintenance contracts to Ethical Power, with first generation expected in late 2026 and full generation in early 2027.
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