Ruakākā Energy Park
Ruakākā Energy Park combines a 100-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS), currently under construction, and a proposed 120-megawatt solar farm located near Marsden Point in 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.
Earthworks started in early March 2023 and the BESS is expected to be installed and fully commissioned by September 2024.
Resource consent applications for the solar farm were lodged in September 2023. In February 2024, the Whangārei District Council issued resource consents covering the construction and operation of the solar farm and related effects (traffic, stormwater, contaminated land, noise, landscape, and visual effects).
What is the BESS?
This BESS will be made up of:
- 80 x 20-foot battery storage units
- 20 x Power Conversion System units, which include inverters and transformers that increase the voltage of the electricity from the battery units
The site will also contain:
- A switching station building
- An office and storage building
- A firewater tank/s
- Small transformers and other electrical equipment
- Carparking, unloading and storage areas
- Security fencing and an eight-millimetre landscaping area around the road boundaries of the site
The timeline for construction
The work has three stages:
Stage 1: Earthworks and drainage – March to July 2023
Stage 2: Battery support infrastructure – July 2023 to February 2024
Stage 3: Battery installation and commissioning – March 2024 to September 2024
Latest project updates
To receive our Ruakākā Energy Park community newsletter, please email ruakakabattery@meridianenergy.co.nz
Tackling Zero
Tackling Zero is Meridian’s quarterly newsletter for people whose roles or studies are focused on sustainability, or for whom this is an area of interest. Each issue will offer Meridian’s insights into a topical sustainability issue, as well as stories on how we, our customers and supply chain partners are tackling sustainability. It also includes links to recent Meridian disclosures such as new policies and reports.