What is the New Zealand battery?

1 This paper provides a progress update on the project known as ‘the New Zealand Battery’, a project to investigate the feasibility of options to address New Zealand’s dry year problem in a highly renewable electricity system. The paper also seeks a revision to reporting lines on the project.

What is the NZ battery project?

A more detailed report may reveal material issues that this report has not identified. The NZ Battery Project was set up in 2020 to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions for when our hydro lakes run low for long periods. A pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow was one of the options being explored.

How much does a battery cost in New Zealand?

The mean charging spot price was $123/MWh and the median was $132/MWh. As New Zealand electrifies, more grid-scale batteries will support the growing renewable energy supply. Meridian Energy is building a 100MW (200MWh) battery near Ruakākā in sunny Northland. This battery is expected to be commissioned in September 2024.

What are grid-scale batteries & how can they benefit New Zealand?

Grid-scale batteries maximise the benefits of renewable energy and provide extra resilience during times of tight electricity supply. Additionally, these batteries, alongside more renewable generation, will help off-set the retirement of thermal generation and support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy.

Will New Zealand's new baseload generation be renewable?

While new baseload generation investment in New Zealand is expected to be renewable (wind, solar and geothermal), electricity scenarios modelled by the Interim Climate Change Committee (ICCC) and others suggest that some gas-fired generation will be used to ensure reliable electricity supply during dry years under the status quo.