New investment confirmed for Lightyears Solar
A new round of investment has now been confirmed, further accelerating Lightyears’ mission to deliver community-scale solar across Aotearoa.
We’re proud to celebrate a major milestone for one of the country’s most exciting clean-energy innovators — Lightyears Solar.
A new round of investment has now been confirmed, further accelerating Lightyears’ mission to deliver community-scale solar across Aotearoa.
Dr Andreas Leimbach — a seasoned solar-energy entrepreneur and managing partner at European investment firm SolarKapital — is confirmed as both a key investor and new member of the Lightyears’ advisory board. Dr Leimbach brings over 12 years of hands-on experience investing in solar projects across Europe, along with two decades in corporate banking, structured finance, and private equity.
Over the past three years, Invest NZ has partnered closely with the Lightyears team to support their capital-raising journey and connect them with high-value international investors.
As Callum McKain, CFO of Lightyears Solar says: “Invest NZ has been Lightyears’ sole platform to help raise equity over the last three years and in that time we have grown to support 17 people. All of the profit goes back into the business to build solar farms in NZ.”
Hayden Mackenzie, Head of Energy for Invest New Zealand, New Zealand's recently formed foreign direct investment attraction agency says: “This new investment reflects the strong global appetite for high-quality renewable energy opportunities and the confidence investors have in New Zealand’s clean-energy transition.”
Lightyears’ momentum is also being recognised nationally. The company recently ranked 21st in the Deloitte Fast 50, highlighting its outstanding growth and its emergence as a leading force in distributed solar infrastructure.
At Invest NZ, we’re committed to backing high-growth, future-focused companies like Lightyears Solar — businesses that create skilled jobs, strengthen regional economies, and help power New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions future.
Congratulations to the entire Lightyears team. We’re proud to support your journey — and even more excited for what comes next.
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If you are interested in understanding more about New Zealand's pipeline of investable opportunities explore our deal pipeline here: Sector Deals Pipeline | Invest New Zealand or get in touch with our team today
Learn more about New Zealand’s renewable energy sector here: Renewable energy investment opportunities in New Zealand | Invest New Zealand
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For media inquiries: Fiona Acheson, Fiona.Acheson@investnz.govt.nz Tel:+64 27 248 9895