New Zealand Clears 179-MW Solar-Battery on North Island

• New Zealand greenlights a 179 MW solar-plus-storage project on the North Island, boosting grid resilience and decarbonization as hybrid renewables gain nationwide momentum.

New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority granted resource consents for a 179-megawatt solar farm with a co-located battery energy storage system on the North Island, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for one of the country’s larger solar-and-storage builds. The decision enables site preparation and detailed design to proceed under consent conditions.

The project is expected to add utility-scale renewable capacity while providing grid-balancing services from the BESS, supporting national decarbonization goals and North Island supply security. The EPA’s approval signals growing momentum for hybrid projects in New Zealand’s power mix, though final investment, construction timelines, and battery specifications were not disclosed.

What developer, EPC, timeline, and BESS specifications accompany the EPA-approved 179 MW project?

• Developer: Not publicly disclosed
  
• EPC contractor: Not appointed/announced
  
• Timeline: Site prep and detailed design can proceed under consent; FID, construction start, and commissioning dates not disclosed
  
• BESS: Co-located system; power/energy rating, duration, chemistry, and coupling architecture not disclosed