New Zealand energy utility installs 1MW Tesla battery

New Zealand electricity and gas distributor Vector Ltd (NZE:VCT) has installed a 1MW/2.3MWh Tesla Powerpack battery storage system at its renovated Glen Innes substation.

The company officially opened the facility today and said in a statement that the installation of energy storage capacity is part of a radical transformation in how Vector manages the electricity network and responds to the need for innovative infrastructure development.

CEO Simon Mackenzie explained that the Powerpack could help to cut peak demand and extend the life of the Glen Innes substation, deferring capital expenditure and providing supplementary power to the area.

Vector says its network is evolving with the installation of smart meters, solar photovoltaic (PV) and storage systems, and an expanding network of electric vehicle charging stations. The firm owns and operates the power distribution network in the greater Auckland region, supplying over 544,500 homes and businesses. Among other products and services, it offers a residential solar-plus-storage solution.

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