Renewables
Powering Northland’s future with renewable energy
At Northpower, we’re investing in renewable energy to create a cleaner, more resilient future for Northland and Aotearoa New Zealand. Our vision is to double our impact in the region, delivering sustainable infrastructure that generates long-term value for our communities.
From solar to other emerging renewable technologies, we are building projects that:
- Deliver reliable, locally owned energy supply
- Create skills and jobs for Northlanders
- Showcase innovative international technologies in Aotearoa
- Support New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon future
Bringing power home
We’ve completed Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru Solar Farm in Ruawai, Northland. It is New Zealand’s first large-scale community-built, owned, and operated solar farm.
This $25 million project now powers 3,000 homes a year, with stage two underway to bring even more clean energy into our region. It is a proud moment for Northland and a clear example of what is possible when we invest in renewable energy that is owned by the community, for the community.
Situated one hour southwest of Whangārei, the farm is ideally located for grid-scale solar generation as it is close to Northpower’s existing infrastructure and has the right topography and climate. Construction began in January 2024 and was completed in December 2024.
Rooted in community
From the start, this project has been about people. More than $5 million was spent locally, with over 50 Northlanders gaining new skills and jobs, including 17 who were previously unemployed.
We worked closely with hapū Te Uri o Hau, who named the site Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru, meaning “the energy source of Omaru,” honouring its cultural and historical importance. We were humbled that the Alexander family, who farmed the land for four generations, entrusted it to Northpower so it could become a renewable legacy for future generations.
Leading with innovation
The solar farm also brings world-leading technology to Aotearoa. It is the first here to use Nextracker’s solar tracking system, boosting energy yield by up to 30 percent, alongside Shoals’ DC cabling, Jinko Solar’s bi-facial panels, and Power Electronics modular inverters.
With innovative safety designs developed by our own team, the project sets a new benchmark for how renewable energy can deliver lasting technical, social and cultural benefits.
20
hectare solar farm
16.7MW
under defined conditions
3000
homes powered annually
$25m
investment
Frequently asked questions
We believe that solar generation is a wise investment in our region’s energy future.
Our region largely relies on hydro power generated in the South Island. Using Northland’s sun and the latest technology to generate electricity we can:
- Improve our energy supply and resilience and sell energy back to the national grid
- Play our part in New Zealand’s decarbonisation to help mitigate climate change
- Give Northlanders a stake in generation ownership; so profits are distributed locally
It’s also the right time – our community will be one of the first to own renewable energy generation in Northland.
It’s putting sustainability at the very heart of what we do and maximises our impact and contribution.
By taking this first step in Ruawai, we’ll be building and running grid-scale solar generation from within the community, for the community.
This will:
- Give Northlanders an ownership stake in renewables.
- Generate 28,000 GWh (gigawatt hours) per year, powering over 3,000 homes.
- Drive economic growth and prosperity through local investment.
- Take genuine climate change action by championing renewable energy transition.
We are reaching out to local businesses to be involved in the project and intend to source services locally as much as possible.
- It’s the right place – Northland’s climate makes it a preferred location for solar generation.
- We’re well positioned for grid-scale solar generation at Ruawai – we know our region; we have capital to invest and capacity to build.
- Our Ruawai site has suitable topography and proximity to our existing network infrastructure.
- We have nearly 100 years of operational history in the Kaipara region, so it truly is ‘bringing power home’.
- Investing in solar technologies complements our existing 5MW hydro power station at Wairua.
- The project is 16.7MWDC over about 20HA of land, with a total build cost of around $25 million.
- Construction began in January 2024 and was completed in December 2024.
- The operational noise of the farm is within the allowable limits under the Kaipara District Plan.
- The solar farm is located on a rural back road, constructed in the back of the property with minimal viewing from the roads.
- Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are not highly reflective and are generally designed to absorb light, reflecting a very low percentage of sunlight.
- EMFs are created by all forms of electrical equipment that generate, transport, or use electricity, but only if it is alternating current (AC).
- Most of the infrastructure at solar generating facilities, including the solar panels and most cables, produce direct current (DC) electricity.
- Electricity from solar panels and transmission to the power grid emits extremely weak EMFs’
- In a solar farm, the type of equipment that produces EMF includes inverters, transformers, AC cabling, and the substation, at rates well below international standards.
- The World Health Organisation states that despite significant research, there is no proof that low-level electromagnetic field exposure is hazardous to human health.
