Construction of New Zealand's first large scale grid battery storage system has finished in Ruakākā, just south of Whangārei.  

The Meridian Energy project has storage capacity of 200 megawatt-hours, which is enough to power 60 thousand homes for two hours.  

It will provide greater resilience and reduce strain to the Northland power and reduce strain on the wider power supply.  

Guy Waipara, Meridian Energy General Manager Development, told Kerre Woodham the batteries are designed to be available at peak periods for the network. 

He says it’s only part of the system, but it will play a really important part at the times where energy security is challenged. 

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