Contact Energy has officially commissioned its first grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), a 100MW/200MWh facility located at the Glenbrook steelworks site in South Auckland, New Zealand.
The project, named Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 1, is equipped with 56 Tesla Megapack 2XL systems and is capable of delivering electricity for up to two hours at full capacity.
According to the company, the battery can respond to grid frequency signals within 0.2 seconds, enabling rapid support during sudden demand spikes or unexpected outages across the electricity network.
Contact Energy chief executive Mike Fuge described the installation as “a bit like the Swiss Army Knife of the electricity system,” citing its ability to perform multiple grid-support functions simultaneously.
The BESS will store surplus renewable electricity generated from New Zealand’s hydro, geothermal and wind power assets during periods of low demand. The stored energy can later be discharged into the grid during peak consumption periods, helping improve system reliability and reduce renewable energy curtailment.
The project is expected to strengthen grid stability as New Zealand increases renewable energy penetration and transitions away from fossil-fuel-based generation. In addition to energy shifting, the battery will also provide fast frequency response and reserve services to support national grid operations.
The Glenbrook battery project represents one of the country’s largest battery energy storage installations and marks the first deployment of Tesla Megapack 2XL technology in New Zealand.
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