Ruakaka BESS opens

Meridian Energy’s Ruakaka battery energy storage system (BESS) has officially opened.

Reportedly New Zealand’s first large-scale grid battery storage system, the Ruakaka BESS has a maximum output of 100MW of electricity and storage capacity of 200MWh, enough to power about 60,000 average households during winter for two-hours.

Construction began early in 2023 and has been completed inside the project’s original $186 million capital envelope, says Meridian.

The BESS adds a North Island storage asset into New Zealand’s electricity system, and will perform a number of key roles, says Meridian development general manager Guy Waipara.

“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,” he says.

“Although construction and commissioning are now complete, some steps remain before the BESS is fully operational, including approval of final commissioning test results.”

Meridian’s focus has now turned to the neighbouring $227 million, 130MW Ruakaka Solar Farm, with construction due to start in August 2025, forming Meridian’s Ruakaka Energy Park with the BESS.

“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,” says Waipara.

“Meridian is stepping up to the challenge with the Ruakaka Energy Park, part of $3 billion we will invest over the next five years,” he says.

The company has four other projects consented, including another BESS in Manawatu, and several others progressing through consenting processes, with batteries incorporated into a number of new solar farm projects.

Meridian’s battery partner for Ruakaka is Saft, and Transpower has also had a key role in planning, construction and commissioning, the company says.