Stratford solar

A proposed 170MWdc solar farm in Stratford, Taranaki

The Stratford solar farm is a proposed 170MWdc project on a 450-hectare site of existing dairy farmland beside Contact Energy’s power station in Stratford, Taranaki. Lightsource bp and Contact Energy are collaborating on the development, which is expected to generate enough solar energy to power 42,000 homes and have an operational life of at least 35 years. The project will connect to the existing Stratford substation and has the potential to include a co-located battery for energy storage, enabling power to be released immediately into the network.

We’re in the early stages of design and planning for the project and will engage with the community and key stakeholders as the design is refined. Construction is expected to start in mid-2026, and the project is anticipated to employ up to 200 people during this period. Where possible, we will involve local companies and contractors in the construction process. Additionally, there is potential to explore agrivoltaics, integrating agricultural activities with solar energy production on the site.