Solar transforming the land
NewPower are developing a solar farm in the Waikato named Rangimārie, which means Peace and Tranquillity.
The name was gifted to NewPower by Ngāti Paoa. This is a significant name given the transformation of the land from a place that used to transfer coal into buckets that fed the now decommissioned Meremere coal-fired power station, to renewable energy generation.
Once completed, Rangimārie will be a 12MW solar farm, with the fixed-tilt panels supplying energy to WEL Networks. The project leverages teams from NewPower and Infratec, along with a third-party EPC provider, who are responsible for the main equipment procurement and the bulk of construction activities.
Having established the site and constructed the perimeter fencing, the project is gearing up for the start of the main mechanical installation works. The project is targeting a Practical Completion of mid-April 2026.
