Farm Solar
Power Your Property, Cut Your Costs
Why farms are a strong fit for solar
Space, timing, location — farms tick every box.
Farms have exactly what solar needs to work well: large, unshaded roof space on sheds and barns that’s often sitting unused, and daytime-heavy loads — pumps, refrigeration, processing — that draw power right when solar generates it. Add in rural locations where outages take longer to fix, and rising power costs hitting equipment-heavy operations hardest, and battery-backed solar stops being a nice-to-have and becomes a genuinely practical investment.
The McKenzie Case Study
The McKenzie farm has gone all-in on solar — and the results speak for themselves.
McKenzie Farm now runs on a 145.145kW solar array with 84.42kWh of battery storage, powering every shed and home on the property.
Excess daytime generation charges the battery bank for overnight use, with an integrated genset kicking in automatically if storage runs low.
The result: full-property power, regardless of weather or time of day — power cuts are no longer a concern.
Why trilect for Farm Solar
As commercial solar specialists, we design every farm solar system around your actual load — milking times, irrigation, cool store runtime — not a generic package; the same approach behind our 145kW McKenzie Farm solar shed conversion.
In-house install, no subcontractors
Every job uses our own Mastercraft-registered electricians, start to finish — full accountability, no outsourced crews.
Customised systems, not a template
Dairy sheds, irrigation, refrigeration, or packhouses — we size the system to how your farm actually draws power.
Support that doesn't stop at commissioning
Your install is backed by the same nationwide team from Northland to Christchurch — not a call centre after the sale.
Design considerations for Farm Solar Installation
Getting a farm solar system right depends on decisions made before a single panel goes up.
Load profile first
Every farm draws power differently. We map a full year of usage before sizing anything.
Roof-mount vs ground-mount
Roofs are the obvious choice where space allows, but ground-mount can be more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
Orientation and tilt
North-facing, correctly tilted panels capture the most output — placement also has to work around machinery, stock, and dust
Battery sizing to the load curve
Storage is sized to when power is actually needed, not a flat coverage percentage.
Backup and resilience
Where continuity matters — milking, refrigeration, water — genset backup keeps the system running through extended outages.
Grid connection and consenting
Lines company approval and consenting are handled as part of the project, not left for the farmer to chase.
Room to expand
Designed with future herd growth, new sheds, or added irrigation in mind.
Solar looks different on every farm
There's no single "farm solar" system. What you need depends entirely on what your farm does:
Dairy farms — milking sheds run twice-daily, high-draw loads: pumps, refrigeration, water heating.
Sheep and beef farms — water pumping, electric fencing, yards, wool sheds, often across remote areas
Cropping and horticulture — irrigation pumps, cool stores, packing sheds — daytime-heavy loads that suit solar well
Mixed and lifestyle farms — homestead power plus lighter-use sheds and outbuildings.
Ready to power your farm with solar?
McKenzie Farm went from a $3,800 monthly power bill to full property self-sufficiency. See what's possible for yours — book a free on-farm assessment.
Farm Solar Installation Process
Design, procurement, and installation — handled end-to-end by our own team
- Initial enquiry — Contact us and we respond the same business day, with a rough estimate available over the phone.
- On-farm assessment — We visit the property, assess roof and land options, and analyse a full year of your energy usage.
- System design and proposal — We design a system sized to your farm’s actual load and provide a detailed proposal covering specifications, expected output, and cost.
Consenting, grid connection, and equipment — We handle lines company approvals and interconnection paperwork, and source the panels, inverters, and battery equipment specified in your design — often the slowest part of a farm install, managed as part of the project rather than left for you to chase.
- Build — A dedicated Project Manager oversees construction, carried out entirely by our own Mastercraft-registered electricians, coordinated to minimise disruption to your farm.
- Commissioning and handover — Full quality assurance checks, system testing, and a walkthrough of how to operate and monitor it.
- Ongoing support — Monitoring, monthly reporting, panel cleaning, and technical support from the same team that installed it.
frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions businesses ask when considering solar carports installation, including design requirements, approvals, and site planning considerations.
Is solar worth it for a small or medium-sized farm?
Yes. Farms with high annual electricity costs and heavy daytime equipment use tend to see the strongest returns, but any farm receiving regular power bills can benefit from solar.
How long does it take to pay for itself?
A farm solar system can pay for itself in as little as 4 years, with the system providing free energy for the rest of its roughly 25-year lifespan. Larger systems, or those including battery storage, generally take longer to pay back.
Do I need a battery for backup power during an outage?
Yes — a solar array on its own won’t keep your farm running during a power cut. Battery storage is required to provide backup power when the grid goes down.
How much roof or land space does a farm solar system need?
Smaller systems need around 150m², while larger systems can require 1,000m² or more. Panels can be roof-mounted or ground-mounted depending on your site. Read more here.
What farm equipment can solar power?
Solar can power dairy sheds, irrigation systems, fans, pumps, refrigeration, lighting, heating, and processing equipment — anything with an electrical demand.
Does solar work well in cloudy or coastal parts of NZ?
Yes — solar works well across New Zealand even on cloudy days, though sunshine hours vary by region and coastal sites may need extra corrosion protection.
Is government funding or support available for farm solar?
EECA’s Solar on Farms programme offers independent guidance and support to help farmers assess whether solar and battery storage is right for their operation, including planning, sizing, and provider-comparison resources.
Can ground-mounted panels be installed without losing usable farm land?
Ground-mount systems are positioned to minimise disruption to farm operations, and site layout is planned around your existing land use during the design phase.
Certified & Accredited
As proud accredited members of these leading New Zealand organisations, we are committed to upholding their values and advancing our industry.
Switch on a brighter future with Trilect Solar!
With 150 skilled technicians and 47 MWp delivered across major solar farm projects, Trilect Solar is a proven leader in commercial solar.
We’ve installed 47 MWp across major solar farm projects, plus more than 5 MWp on commercial rooftops and another 4 MWp across smaller commercial sites, farms, and homes.
When it comes to solar farms and commercial solar, Trilect Solar is your first choice for capability, experience, and reliability.
