January 12, 2023: Saft, a subsidiary of oil big TotalEnergies, stated on January 10 that it had gained a contract from New Zealand’s energy firm, Meridian Power, to construct the primary large-scale community linked to BESS.
The 100MW/200MWh facility, to assist grid stability as renewable energy technology ramps up, ought to enter service within the second half of 2024.
BESS is the primary section of a mission that may embrace the development of a 130MW photo voltaic farm in Meridian, which shares the identical location as Ruakākā within the nation’s North Island.
Battery Energy Storage System will embrace 80 Intensium Shift battery containers, primarily based on lithium iron phosphate know-how with 40 inverters, 20 medium-voltage energy stations, and energy administration methods offered by third-party suppliers. Saft will combine these tools with Meridian and Transpower 33kV switchgear, SCADA, and energy stations.
It will open up many new income streams for Meridian, with the flexibility to load shift between value intervals and take part in the North Island electrical energy market. Meridian expects BESS to generate an annual income of as much as US$35 million.
Neal Barclay, CEO of Meridian, stated, “The shared infrastructure offered by BESS will enhance the economics of future photo voltaic farms.”
