New Zealand bess hybrid

Is a 'Bess' being built in New Zealand?

In February, Meridian reaffirmed that a BESS of “at least 100MW” is being planned for construction in combination with a utility-scale solar farm at Ruākākā Energy Park, a development adjacent to Marsden Point oil refinery, also in the far north of New Zealand.

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.

How much does a Bess project cost in New Zealand?

Expected project costs cited by WEL Networks chief executive Garth Dibley at the time were about NZ$25 million (US$17.13 million). The BESS will provide fast reserve ancillary services to the local grid, as well as providing backup power in the event of emergencies.

Will Saft build New Zealand's first large-scale grid-connected Bess?

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. 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.

What is a Bess & how will it work?

The BESS will help integrate growing shares of renewable energy from variable wind and solar PV generation, while also providing fast reserve ancillary services to the grid. WEL Networks and Infratec said they are actively pursuing other opportunities to enhance resilience and increase access to renewable energy in the region.

What can New Zealand do to improve energy resilience?

WEL Networks and Infratec said they are actively pursuing other opportunities to enhance resilience and increase access to renewable energy in the region. New Zealand currently has a couple of 1MW battery storage systems in operation, but certainly nothing on the scale of the BESS in Huntly.