Meridian Energy (ASX:MEZ, NZE:MEL) has received approval to develop the 110 megawatt Morrinsville Solar Farm in Waikato, with around 230,000 solar panels expected to generate up to 200 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually, enough to power more than 25,000 homes, according to a Monday statement by the company.
The 134-hectare project near the Piako substation will strengthen New Zealand's renewable energy supply, create over 100 construction jobs, support future battery storage, and improve local habitats through native planting, the company said.
The project could begin construction in 2028, subject to approval from the company's board, and is expected to take around two years to complete.