New Zealand solar Integrated Container BESS

What is a battery energy storage system (BESS)?

Over recent years, it has become common for utility-scale solar projects in Australia to include a grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) to provide energy generated by the solar farm to the grid outside of the times when the sun is shining.

Will Bess become a cog in New Zealand's energy landscape?

We expect that BESS will also become an increasingly important cog in New Zealand’s broader energy landscape and that we will see utility-scale solar projects incorporating batteries as a means of providing dispatchable generation during peak demand and enhancing grid stability.

Why does New Zealand need a Bess system?

Delaney noted that the BESS system not only benefits the port and its customers but also supports New Zealand’s broader supply chain, particularly in managing local energy constraints. The BESS initiative is backed by a US$500,000 loan from Ara Ake, an organization dedicated to advancing energy innovation in New Zealand.

How much does a Bess project cost in New Zealand?

Construction of the BESS, located south of Whangārei, the northernmost city of New Zealand, began in early 2023 and was completed within the project’s original budget of NZ$186 million (US$109 million). It forms stage two of Meridian’s Ruakākā Energy Park development.