New Plymouth Airport plans energy self-sufficiency

New Plymouth Airport is on track to be powered by renewable energy, using solar power and battery technology.

The airport has partnered with Wellington-based EV charging experts Thundergrid to install a new battery energy storage system (BESS) that will store energy produced by its new solar farm to keep the terminal powered through the night.

Construction and delivery of the 10MW solar farm and battery is underway, with the airport scheduled to go off-grid from November.

New Plymouth Airport chief executive David Scott says creating their own renewable power source helps towards national decarbonisation goals and eases demand on New Zealand’s grid.

“Our motivations in building the solar farm were to better utilise airport operational buffer land, contribute to the national push towards decarbonisation and shield ourselves from electricity price uncertainty and cost inflation.”

He says projects like this could become the blueprint for renewable energy use in New Zealand that not only make sense environmentally but commercially too – building energy resilience for the entire country.

The airport is due to complete its 10MW solar farm in November.

Thundergrid co-founder Jonathan Zukerman says the battery technology they’re installing at New Plymouth airport demonstrates the potential for greater energy resilience across the country.

“Our work with New Plymouth Airport ticks all the boxes for building energy resilience while transitioning to renewable sources,” he says.

“It’s no longer just an environmentally responsible choice – it’s a smart business decision providing clean and cheap energy while removing pressure from the grid – ensuring there’s enough energy for everyone without needing to build new grid infrastructure,”

Zukerman says battery technology has untapped potential for homeowners and other businesses too as EV adoption continues to grow.

Thundergrid has also installed 40 smart EV chargers for rental cars at New Plymouth Airport and is about to start construction of a public rapid-charger facility in the main airport car park. Once the solar farm is complete, it will also power these chargers.