Construction of New Zealand’s first large-scale grid battery storage system is now complete with Meridian Energy’s Ruakākā Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Ruakākā BESS has a maximum output of 100 MW of electricity and a storage capacity of 200 MWh, enough to power around 60,000 average households during winter for a two-hour period.
Construction of the BESS, located south of Whangārei, began in the first quarter of 2023 and has been completed inside the project’s original $186 million capital envelope.
BESS adds a North Island storage asset into New Zealand’s electricity system, and one that will perform a number of key roles.
“This BESS is a new and exciting addition to our asset portfolio. It gives us the ability to load shift between price periods, smooth out peak periods, provide greater resilience to Northland, and enable Meridian to participate in the North Island electricity reserves market.”
“Although construction and commissioning are now complete, some steps remain before the BESS is fully operational, including approval of final commissioning test results.”
– Guy Waipara, Meridian’s General Manager of Development.
Meridian Energy’s focus has now turned to the neighboring $227 million, 130 MW Ruakākā Solar Farm, with construction set to begin in August 2025. Together with the BESS, this forms Meridian’s Ruakākā Energy Park.
“These will be key assets for Northland and for New Zealand. There is a tremendous amount going on across the industry to ensure Kiwi homes and businesses continue to have all the electricity they need at prices that continue to be internationally competitive. Meridian is stepping up to the challenge with the Ruakākā Energy Park, part of the $3 billion we will invest over the next five years.”
– Guy Waipara, Meridian’s General Manager of Development.
The company has four other projects already consented, including another BESS in Manawatū, and several others progressing through consenting processes. In addition to Manawatū, Meridian intends to incorporate batteries into a number of new solar farm projects.
Meridian’s battery partner for Ruakākā is Saft, and Transpower has also played a key role in planning, construction, and commissioning.
“This has been a real team effort, and Meridian thanks both for their contributions to the project. Being the first of its kind in New Zealand, there has been a lot to learn.”
– Guy Waipara, Meridian’s General Manager of Development.
Meridian Energy is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest listed companies. It sells more electricity to customers, large and small, than any other electricity company and generates around a third of the country’s electricity needs—all from renewable sources. Its Power Up community fund supports local projects in areas in which they have generation assets. It’s one of the ways in which we recognize the importance of local communities to our operations.
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