Mercury’s R&D centre showcases renewable generation

Mercury has announced construction of a research and development (R&D) centre in Auckland to showcase renewable generation.

The centre’s focus on wholly renewable generation from solar and battery storage to other technologies has the potential to unlock new value and choice for Kiwi consumers and businesses.

The initial installation, to be completed by November this year, will include glass panels from Trina Solar accompanied by three types of battery technology from LG Chem, SolaX and Enphase, smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers and energy analytics and monitoring equipment. Initial total annual output of renewable solar energy will be around 110,000 kWh, with the majority of energy generated from the 78kW solar array used onsite.

The previous fossil-fuelled electricity generation on the Southdown site had peak carbon emissions of 500,000 tonnes per year less than a decade ago.

“This local testbed for world-leading consumer generation reflects the unstoppable momentum of renewables in New Zealand,” says Mercury chief executive Fraser Whineray. “This is about extending our strength in renewables and making proven new options available, particularly with EVs and solar, to give Kiwis more freedom in how they generate, store and use energy.”

He concludes that the new R&D centre on the site of the former gas-fired Southdown power station is “a signpost to the future and New Zealand’s continued leadership in renewable energy”.