Battery boosts power reliability in Oakura
Work's begun to improve the reliability and restoration times of the electricity supply in Oakura, with a new battery energy storage system (BESS).
The BESS is being installed at the Oakura substation on South Road and is expected to be commissioned by mid-February next year.
Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says this battery will make a real difference for customers.
“The BESS is designed to support the local network during outages and reduce pressure on the network during peak demand for power, with the aim of fewer disruptions and quicker recovery when faults occur,” she says.
The BESS will:
- Provide instant backup during power outages.
- Help manage peak demand, exporting power when use is high to ease pressure on the substation.
- Remain continuously connected to the local 11kV network, offering support even during wider network disruption.
- Contribute to network stability across Taranaki.
The installation is taking place on a small portion of the existing substation site, with minimal disruption expected.
The specs
The Tesla Powerpack is a modular, AC-coupled battery energy storage system (BESS) comprising:
- 12 Powerpacks (2x 522 kW / 1044 kWh = 1044kW / 2088kWh when new)
- Two inverter cabinets, each with 10 inverter modules
- A site-level controller for system management
