Genesis Energy Begins Construction of a 200MWh BESS in New Zealand
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Genesis Energy, a prominent energy generation, wholesale, and retail company in New Zealand, has commenced the construction of a 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) on the North Island. The official start date was June 5, 2025. This facility will be situated at the Huntly Power Station in the Waikato region, which is known for housing the country’s largest river and lake.
Huntly Power Station is New Zealand’s largest thermal power facility, boasting a generation capacity of 1,200MW, making it the primary electricity generation site in the country. According to previous reports by Energy-Storage.news, Saft has been selected as the supplier for the BESS. Saft will provide a complete turnkey solution involving the engineering of the 100MW/200MWh system, which will utilize 70 of its ‘iShift’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery containers, along with power conversion and control systems. The BESS is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2026.
Malcolm Jones, CEO of Genesis Energy, stated that the BESS will serve as a crucial backup for the national grid during peak demand periods, particularly during the cold winter mornings and evenings. “We’ll be able to store electricity in the battery during times of high generation and release it when it’s most needed,” Jones emphasized. 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 represents the first stage of that strategy.
The new BESS will mark Saft’s third utility-scale BESS installation in New Zealand. One of their previous projects includes a 100MW/200MWh system for Meridian Energy, which is set to be developed near Whangārei, New Zealand’s northernmost city. Tracey Hickman, chief wholesale officer at Genesis Energy, noted that Saft’s proven track record in delivering BESS projects in New Zealand influenced their decision to contract the company.
The initiation of construction on the Huntly BESS follows Genesis Energy’s recent opening of what it claims to be New Zealand’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant: the 63MWp Lauriston site, located west of Christchurch near the Rakaia River in the Canterbury Plains. This site, which historically served agricultural purposes such as sheep grazing, will continue to support these practices under the concept of ‘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-3/
