8 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Meridian Energy: Ruakaka Energy Park T T Richard Loader Ruakaka Energy Park taking shape The first stage of the energy park, the BESS, will cover an area the size of two rugby fields and provide additional reserve power and resilience to the national grid, accelerate the growth of renewable generation and support the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050. Meridian Energy’s Ruakākā Energy Park, is a 100MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), currently under construction, and a 120MW solar farm, located at Ruakākā, near Whangārei. The first stage of the energy park, the BESS, will cover an area the size of two rugby fields and provide additional reserve power and resilience to the national grid, accelerate the growth of renewable generation and support the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050. When completed it will be New Zealand’s first large-scale grid BESS, providing Meridian with a versatile North Island asset. This BESS will be made up of eighty 20ft containerised battery storage units, and twenty Power Conversion System units (PCS), which include inverters and transformers that increase the voltage of the electricity from the battery units. The site will contain a switching station building, an office and storage building, firewater tank/s, small transformers and other electrical equipment, carparking, unloading and storage areas, security fencing and an 8m landscaping area around the road boundaries of the site. The BESS is being delivered in three stages: Stage 1 – Earthworks and drainage, which was completed in August 2023; Stage 2 – Battery support infrastructure – currently under construction; Stage 3 – Battery installation and commissioning, to be completed at the end of 2024. Project Director Alan de Lima says the BESS offers Meridian Energy with multiple new revenue streams, providing the ability to load shift between price periods and to participate in the North Island reserve electricity market. “As intermittent renewable generation increases in this country, the Ruakākā BESS will help manage supply fluctuations through a low carbon footprint, reducing this country’s reliance on fossil fuels.” Global battery specialist Saft are providing integrated battery supply, installation, commissioning and operational services for the BESS. Meridian Energy is managing a multi contract delivery approach, with project completion expected in the second half of 2024. Alan says the project will have a positive impact on the region in terms of resilience and improving security of supply, as well as local economic benefits throughout the construction period and the introduction of a Community Fund upon completion. “We’d like to acknowledge local hapū Patuharakeke, who with Meridian are developing a relationship agreement to work together with the hope this project enables collective opportunities, including employment and “As intermittent renewable generation increases in this country, the Ruakākā BESS will help manage supply fluctuations through a low carbon footprint, reducing this country’s reliance on fossil fuels.” training, assessment of future projects as well as advancing renewable energy initiatives in their rohe (territory).” Meridian Energy’s bold vision for Ruakākā includes a grid-scale solar farm planned to further speed up New Zealand’s transition to a productive low carbon economy. The shared infrastructure provided by the BESS will significantly improve the economics of the future solar farm. Resource consent applications for the solar farm were lodged 2023, and are currently being considered by Councils. No project of this scale and complexity comes without its challenges and Alan acknowledges that a key challenge in this project was mastering the steep learning curve. “This is the first BESS of this scale in New Zealand, which requires working through technology issues during both the design and construction phases, that have not been previously experienced. “Challenges are opportunities, and as always we work our way through these things to achieve a successful outcome.” Alan adds that this was Meridian Energy’s first project north of Auckland, and completely new territory in which to establish a base and build positive relationships with local contractors within the Northland community, as well as other members of the wider community. “We’ve now established very good relationships with local contractors who share our excitement for the project and who are very keen to be involved. They know it will be a showcase project, not just for Meridian Energy, but also the Northland region and themselves. “For me, building those positive relationships with local hapū Patuharakeke, contractors and wider community is what has underpinned the success of this project to date. As well as the solar project we are looking at dozens of other opportunities in Northland, and right across the country, and we will be able to leverage off those relationships going forward.”
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