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.

Where is New Zealand's first grid-connected battery energy storage system located?

Meridian Energy has completed construction of New Zealand’s first large-scale grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) at Ruakākā, with an official opening ceremony scheduled for later today.

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.

Does Saft offer a battery energy storage system for New Zealand?

Saft executive vice president for energy storage solutions Hervé Amossé add: “Saft is proud to provide this first Battery Energy Storage System for New Zealand in the Waikato. We are excited to start this operation phase of the battery for which we will continue to support our partners.

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.