Genesis Energy Begins Construction on 200MWh BESS in New Zealand
By George Heynes
June 6, 2025
Genesis Energy, a publicly traded energy company in New Zealand, has commenced construction of a 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) on the North Island. The company announced the start of this significant project on June 5, which will be situated at the Huntly Power Station, located in the Waikato region, known for its notable river and lake.
The Huntly Power Station is New Zealand’s largest thermal power facility, boasting a generation capacity of 1,200MW, making it the most substantial electricity generation site in the country. As previously reported, Saft has been selected as the supplier for the BESS. Saft will provide a complete turnkey solution for the Huntly BESS, which includes the engineering of 100MW/200MWh based on 70 of its ‘iShift’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery containers, along with power conversion and control systems. The system is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2026.
Malcolm Jones, CEO of Genesis Energy, stated that the BESS will serve as crucial backup for the national grid during peak demand periods, particularly in the cold mornings and evenings of winter. “We’ll be able to store electricity in the battery during times of high generation and release it when it’s most needed,” Jones added.
The development of the BESS aligns with Genesis Energy’s Gen35 strategy, which aims to establish a 400MW system at Huntly Power Station by 2035. This project marks the first stage of that ambitious plan. Once operational, the BESS will be Saft’s third utility-scale BESS in the New Zealand market. Notably, one of these systems includes a 100MW/200MWh installation for state-owned Meridian Energy, which is set to be developed near Whangārei, New Zealand’s northernmost city.
Tracey Hickman, chief wholesale officer at Genesis Energy, highlighted that Saft’s proven track record in delivering BESS projects in New Zealand played a key role in the decision to partner with them. The construction of the Huntly BESS follows Genesis Energy’s recent launch of what they claim to be the country’s largest solar PV power plant: the 63MWp Lauriston site, located west of Christchurch on the South Island, near the Rakaia River in the Canterbury Plains region. This site, traditionally used for sheep grazing, will continue these agricultural practices as part of an initiative known as ‘agrivoltaics’ or ‘agriPV’.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/genesis-energy-launches-construction-of-200mwh-battery-energy-storage-system-in-new-zealand-2/
