New Zealand New Energy Battery Company

Which energy company is building New Zealand's first grid-connected battery energy storage system?

Meridian Energy is building New Zealand’s first large-scale grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS) at Ruakākā on North Island Paris, January 10, 2023 – Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has been awarded a major contract by Meridian Energy to construct New Zealand’s first large-scale grid-connected BESS.

What is the NZ battery project?

The NZ Battery Project was set up in 2020 to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions for when our hydro lakes run low for long periods. A pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow was one of the options being explored. The Government stopped the Lake Onslow investigations in late 2023.

Where does New Zealand's energy come from?

According to official statistics, about 40% of New Zealand’s primary energy comes from renewable sources including geothermal and hydroelectric, which is the third highest among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, after Norway and Iceland. That equates to about 82% renewables for electricity generation.

Will a battery help reduce emissions in the Waikato?

Transpower New Zealand, the state-owned operator of the national grid, said the battery will play a pivotal role in the reduction of emissions in the Waikato and will move the nation closer to its goal of becoming 100% renewable by 2030.

Will a 100-megawatt solar farm improve New Zealand's national grid?

Located at Ruakākā in the country’s North Island, the 100-megawatt (MW) BESS will improve the stability of the national grid, as intermittent renewable power generation increases in New Zealand. The BESS is the first stage of a project that will include the construction of a co-located 130 MW solar farm by Meridian Energy.

Can large-scale battery storage help balance New Zealand's grid?

Transmission system operator Transpower also published studies in 2017 that showed the potential value of large-scale battery storage for balancing New Zealand’s grid and in 2019 that showed the potential value of distributed storage.