Lightyears Solar

A major milestone for the West Coast and New Zealand’s renewable energy future.

Construction is now underway on our 13.5 MW Reefton Solar Farm - Lightyears’ largest solar project to date and a significant investment in regional energy resilience and economic growth.

Reefton has a proud history as the first town in New Zealand to receive a public electricity supply, and it’s fitting that the region is once again helping lead the country into a new energy era.

This project is about more than solar generation. It’s about strengthening electricity security for West Coast communities and businesses, supporting future electrification, and creating long-term regional opportunities.

Strong partnerships are central to making projects like this possible. We’re proud to be working again with Tier 1 supplier JA Solar, which is providing nearly 21,000 high-performance solar modules for the site and Meridian Energy, which is purchasing the output from the farm via a power purchase agreement, helping ensure the renewable energy generated at Reefton supports New Zealand’s transition to a more resilient, lower-emissions electricity system.

Experienced contractors New Energy are currently hard on the mechanical installation, with piles going into the ground before modules go up.

The West Coast has enormous potential for community-scale renewable energy, and this is just the beginning. Exciting to see momentum building for regional renewable infrastructure that delivers both environmental and economic benefits.



Event photos 📷 by Jase Blair/Katabatic

Another seat has been filled at Lightyears, with experienced project manager Derek Ernest joining the team. Derek will oversee the construction at our growing list of solar farm projects, working closely with contractors and stakeholders as we bring more distributed renewable generation to Aotearoa.
Read his full bio at https://www.lightyearssolar.co.nz/meet-the-lightyears-solar-team

We’ve had the privilege of partnering with Invest New Zealand for the last three years, who have provided invaluable support as we raise capital to grow our company and invest in a solar powered future for New Zealand.

We’re delighted to confirm a new round of investment to accelerate our growth and bring community-scale solar to more of Aotearoa.

Read more here: https://www.nzte.govt.nz/blog/new-investment-confirmed-for-lightyears-solar