Tauhei Solar Farm

Challenge

Harmony Energy New Zealand needed consent to develop one of New Zealand’s largest solar farms, at 150 MW capacity in Te Aroha, Waikato and engaged the team to provide planning, ecology, landscape, iwi engagement, and contaminated land expertise.

Solution

The team have been working alongside Harmony Energy since 2019, scoping possible sites, consulting with iwi, investigating ecology, reviewing landscape impacts, assessing soil contamination and ultimately preparing the application for consent.

Due to the project’s significance, Harmony Energy was able to progress the application via the Fast Track legislation and achieved consent on 20 September 2022. We are continuing to work with Harmony on other projects, and three (totaling approximately 300 MW) were lodged with the EPA under Fast Track legislation at the end of 2023.

The Tauhei Solar Farm’s 182 hectares will be home to approximately 330,000 solar panels but still allows for the grazing of sheep, between and under the panel arrays. The project also includes the restoration and creation of approximately 7ha of restored wetland, the retention of roosting trees for native bats (pekapeka-tou-roa), extensive riparian planting, boundary planting over a 12ha area and a network of indigenous species planted as biodiversity corridors. The design reflects a shared vision between Harmony and the 4Sight (now SLR) team to develop solar farms that are culturally sensitive, responsive to the landscape and ecologically enriching.

Impact

Once completed, on an annual basis, the Tauhei Solar Farm will supply the equivalent electricity needs of about 30,000 houses - approximately the size of Hamilton city and will help support New Zealand’s net zero ambition. It is expected to be operational in 2026.

Harmony also has a project pipeline of more than 500 MW of capacity in New Zealand. Three further solar farms with energy storage have also been granted approval with a combined capacity to power around 50,000 homes. The sites located in Ōpunake, Marton, and Carterton and will make a significant contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand's climate change efforts and its transition to a low-emissions economy. Further, our team is continuing to work with Harmony to support the development of future renewable energy projects.