New Zealand just switched on its first grid-scale battery — 100 MW of stored sunshine at Huntly

At Huntly, on New Zealand's North Island, Genesis Energy has switched on the country's first grid-scale battery: 100 megawatts of power, 200 megawatt-hours of storage, built in just 14 months for about NZ$130 million (about $74 million) — and delivered under budget. The 70 battery units, supplied by French firm Saft and installed by Northpower, are the fastest-starting asset on the site, ready to smooth the gaps when wind and sun dip. A second battery of the same size is approved for 2028, toward a planned 400 MW total. 'As supply becomes more renewable and subject to weather, this battery will help keep it reliable and secure,' says chief operating officer Tracey Hickman.

SDG 7 · Affordable and clean energy — Mechanism: infrastructure build