Where is New Zealand's biggest planned battery energy storage system?

Image: Vector Energy Development approvals have been granted for New Zealand’s biggest planned battery energy storage system (BESS) to date. The 100MW battery storage project is in development by electricity generator and retailer Meridian Energy at Ruākākā on New Zealand’s North Island. The site is adjacent to Marsden Point, a former oil refinery.

How will a battery storage system benefit New Zealand?

The battery storage will help to reduce these events by smoothing the distribution of supply and demand,” Knott said. The system will charge with cheap energy during off-peak hours and send it back to the grid at times of high demand. It will also enable more power generated on New Zealand’s South Island to be utilised in the north.

What are grid-scale batteries & how can they benefit New Zealand?

Grid-scale batteries maximise the benefits of renewable energy and provide extra resilience during times of tight electricity supply. Additionally, these batteries, alongside more renewable generation, will help off-set the retirement of thermal generation and support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy.

What is New Zealand's first megawatt-scale battery storage system?

The country’s first megawatt-scale battery storage system is thought to have been a 1MW/2.3MWh project completed in 2016 using the Tesla Powerpack, Tesla’s first iteration of an industrial and grid-scale BESS solution. However the first BESS to be connected to the high-voltage transmission grid in New Zealand came two years after that.

How much does a battery cost in New Zealand?

The mean charging spot price was $123/MWh and the median was $132/MWh. As New Zealand electrifies, more grid-scale batteries will support the growing renewable energy supply. Meridian Energy is building a 100MW (200MWh) battery near Ruakākā in sunny Northland. This battery is expected to be commissioned in September 2024.

How will a solar battery help the North Island grid?

WEL Networks chief executive Garth Dibley says: “The battery will maximise the benefits of solar power, providing charging capacity for electric vehicles and back up during grid emergencies. It will store enough energy to meet the daily demands of over 2,000 homes and will be capable of providing fast reserves support for the North Island grid.”