Latest news with #EnergyResilience
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Giant battery: first stage of Ruakākā Energy Park switched on
The new Battery Energy Storage System should help even out electricity supply and demand peaks and troughs for Northland, Meridian says. From left, project manager Mike Wilson and field service engineer Minh Nguyen with some of the battery modules, on Friday. Photo: RNZ/ Peter de Graaf New Zealand's first super-sized grid-connected battery - built at a cost of $186 million - will help improve Northland's energy resilience in future power outages, Meridian Energy says. The company said its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) would also help smooth out power peaks and troughs, by storing energy when electricity is cheap and releasing it at times of peak demand, such as early mornings and evenings. The battery park consisted of 80 shipping-container-sized batteries spread over a two-hectare site at Marsden Point, next the former oil refinery south of Whangārei. Photo: Supplied/ Meridian Energy Project director Alan de Lima said at full capacity the giant battery could supply 100 megawatts (MW) of power, enough for 60,000 homes or about half Northland's population, for two hours. It had been connected to the grid since the beginning of the year and would start operating as soon as final tests had been signed off. "We're very pleased to be the first to get this to market and get into operation … Storage is key in this country, and this battery provides a large amount of storage that helps the whole network and provides more resilience for the entire grid," de Lima said. The facility was in essence one very big battery made up of hundreds of thousands of lithium-ion cells, he said. "We'll charge it when power prices are low or when there's not much demand, typically overnight, or when there's lots of wind and lots of solar. "Then we can wait until the demand is higher and release the energy into the grid then. Typically, that would be in the morning and evening peaks, but also if there's an issue in the grid." Saft field service engineer Minh Nguyen with one of the 80 containerised batteries that make up New Zealand's first grid-scale battery, on 23 May 2025. Photo: RNZ/ Peter de Graaf The site, just 1km from Northland's biggest port and across the road from a Transpower substation, was ideal. General manager of development Guy Waipara said the battery was the company's first project in Northland. It was also stage one of Meridian's planned Ruakākā Energy Park . Stage two would involve building a $227m 130MW solar farm, with 250,000 panels spread over 172ha of land next to the battery. Work was due to start in August with power expected to start flowing in early 2027. Averaged out throughout the year, the solar farm would produce enough power to supply half Northland's needs, Waipara said. "The battery will really come into its own during times of peak stress on the electricity system. Think of it a bit like your EV at home - you charge it up overnight when power is plentiful and cheap. When power is scarce and more expensive, that's when the battery comes in operation." Asked if the two projects would bring down electricity bills in Northland - the Far North especially has some of the highest power prices in the country - Waipara said every new generation project put downward pressure on prices. Local contractors were used as much as possible and a large wetland would be restored during construction of the solar farm. Many more grid-connected batteries were in the pipeline throughout the country, Waipara said. Contact was building one at Glenbrook, south of Auckland; Genesis had one under construction in Huntly ; and Meridian had another consented at Bunnythorpe in Manawatū. Meridian board chairman Mark Verbiest said the accidental toppling of a pylon last year and subsequent Northland-wide power outage , illustrated the need for greater energy resilience in the region. The giant battery was symbolically launched on Friday afternoon by Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Shane Reti, with the two Northland-based MPs flicking on a giant-sized switch. From left, Meridian chairman Mark Verbiest and ministers Shane Reti and Shane Jones. Photo: RNZ/ Peter de Graaf The batteries were manufactured in China for French company Saft. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Biz Bahrain
27-01-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Sustainability Forum Middle East Gears Up for Third Edition in the Kingdom of Bahrain Focusing on Climate and Energy Resilience
Sustainability Forum Middle East is set to launch its third edition on January 28-29, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain focusing on 'Mobilizing Action and Investment for Climate and Energy Resilience.' The Forum is being held in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, and with the support of the Supreme Council for Environment. With participation expected to exceed 400 senior business leaders and regional and international sustainability experts, the Forum will kick off on January 28 with a world-class programme featuring keynotes, fireside chats, and interactive panel discussions covering critical topics essential to achieving regional net-zero ambitions. More than 50 expert speakers from MENA, Europe, UK, US, Brazil, and beyond will share insights, strategies, and solutions, including reflections on COP29 in Azerbaijan and the road to COP30 in Brazil. Key themes will include strategies for aligning business models with climate action, scaling of climate finance, advancing policy and regulatory frameworks, fostering innovation, and accelerating technological advancements, among others. The Forum will open with a keynote address from Mark Thomas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Bapco Energies, followed by discussions featuring senior government officials and business leaders from organizations including: ACWA Power, Aluminium Bahrain, Aramco Ventures, Bank ABC, BNP Paribas, Boston Consulting Group, Central Bank of Bahrain, Google, Gulf International Bank, HSBC, International Finance Corporation, KPMG, National Bank of Bahrain, Red Sea Global, Standard Chartered Bank, talabat, Voluntary Carbon Market, and more. On the evening of January 28, the Forum will also host a special event focused on 'Women's Leadership in Climate and Sustainability' in partnership with the Supreme Council for Women. This dedicated session will highlight the pivotal role of women in shaping the region's climate and sustainability agenda, featuring discussions with leading female changemakers from across MENA. The Forum's second day, January 29, will focus on hands-on learning, with workshops led by leading global management consultancies and specialist regional ESG and sustainability advisory firms including KPMG, Anthesis Group, and Environment Arabia. These sessions will provide participants with the tools and expertise needed to develop effective sustainability strategies, enhance climate-related financial disclosures, and advance decarbonization initiatives. Commenting, Ms. Laila Danesh, Managing Director at FinMark Communications, the Forum's founder and organiser, said, 'We are proud to launch the third edition of Sustainability Forum Middle East, which will again bring together an outstanding lineup of speakers, partners, and attendees. The Forum serves as a key regional platform for high-level engagement, dialogue, and capacity building to support MENA's climate action. We look forward to two days of meaningful discussions and collaboration that will help drive the region's transition toward a more sustainable future.' The Forum's 2025 edition is supported by Strategic Partners: National Bank of Bahrain and Standard Chartered Bank, Forum Partners: Aluminium Bahrain, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard, American Chamber of Commerce Bahrain, Al Areen Holding, Bapco Energies, Benefit, Boston Consulting Group, Environment Arabia, First Motors, Foulath Holding, Gulf Air, Gulf International Bank B.S.C, talabat, Forum Supporters: APM Terminals Bahrain, Sinnad, Learning Partner: Impact Learning and Development, and Media Partners: Asharq Business with Bloomberg, BFT Media, OGN, and Sustainable Finance Daily. For more information on the Forum and how to partner or register, please visit: or contact [email protected]/+973 17 749759.
