Tararua home to first Powerco PowerHub
The small coastal community of Ākitio, in the Tararua district, is home to Powerco’s first PowerHub - a custom hybrid Stand Alone Power Supply (SAPS) that can deliver power to the local hall and act as a community hub during long power outages.
At Friday’s (30 May) opening, the SAPS unit powered the community hall independent of the electricity grid, and Ākitio residents got to see how the PowerHub will work in a prolonged power outage.
Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says she’s excited about the potential of PowerHubs during emergencies.
“Hardwiring a bespoke SAPS unit to a community venue is a first for us, and it’s an important piece of the resilience puzzle for some of our isolated communities,” says Karen Frew.
She adds that while many isolated communities are already highly self-reliant, PowerHubs will enhance existing capabilities by providing additional power support when it's needed most.
“PowerHubs provide a dependable back up, allowing communities to access essential services and continue operating, even in the most remote areas.”
Tararua District Council Emergency Management Officer Peter Sinclair is pleased to see one of the most isolated communities in the district supported.
“For communities at the edge of the grid, having a PowerHub is like having a lifeline,” says Peter Sinclair.
“Energy resilience is about more than keeping the lights on - it’s about giving communities the tools they need to stay connected, supported, and safe during disruption,” he adds.
In addition to Ākitio, Powerco has identified other high-priority sites across its electricity network that are vulnerable to frequent or extended outages. Each site will be individually assessed and developed in partnership with the local community to ensure a PowerHub solution meets their needs.
Each unit is housed in a compact 10-foot container mounted on ground screws and is hardwired into nearby community facilities, creating a PowerHub. These hubs can support heating, cooking, lighting, hot water, and charging stations during crises.
“SAPS units are a vital part of Powerco’s broader strategy to deliver reliable and sustainable power solutions, especially in remote or storm-prone areas,” says Karen Frew.
“By combining data insights, innovation, and community input, we’ve created a tailored solution that benefits both the people we serve and our network infrastructure,” says Karen Frew.
At Friday’s (30 May) opening, the SAPS unit powered the community hall independent of the electricity grid, and Ākitio residents got to see how the PowerHub will work in a prolonged power outage.
Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says she’s excited about the potential of PowerHubs during emergencies.
“Hardwiring a bespoke SAPS unit to a community venue is a first for us, and it’s an important piece of the resilience puzzle for some of our isolated communities,” says Karen Frew.
She adds that while many isolated communities are already highly self-reliant, PowerHubs will enhance existing capabilities by providing additional power support when it's needed most.
“PowerHubs provide a dependable back up, allowing communities to access essential services and continue operating, even in the most remote areas.”
Tararua District Council Emergency Management Officer Peter Sinclair is pleased to see one of the most isolated communities in the district supported.
“For communities at the edge of the grid, having a PowerHub is like having a lifeline,” says Peter Sinclair.
“Energy resilience is about more than keeping the lights on - it’s about giving communities the tools they need to stay connected, supported, and safe during disruption,” he adds.
In addition to Ākitio, Powerco has identified other high-priority sites across its electricity network that are vulnerable to frequent or extended outages. Each site will be individually assessed and developed in partnership with the local community to ensure a PowerHub solution meets their needs.
How PowerHubs work
Supplied by Base Power, the SAPS units operate independently of the main electricity grid. Each unit combines solar power and diesel generation to charge an integrated battery bank. If the grid supply fails, an automatic switch activates the stored power, supplying electricity directly to the connected building.Each unit is housed in a compact 10-foot container mounted on ground screws and is hardwired into nearby community facilities, creating a PowerHub. These hubs can support heating, cooking, lighting, hot water, and charging stations during crises.
“SAPS units are a vital part of Powerco’s broader strategy to deliver reliable and sustainable power solutions, especially in remote or storm-prone areas,” says Karen Frew.
How did the idea come about?
The PowerHub initiative emerged after Cyclone Gabrielle, through discussions with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) groups and other stakeholders within Powerco’s network areas. At the same time, Powerco was conducting internal assessments to identify supply vulnerabilities and prioritise resilience investments.“By combining data insights, innovation, and community input, we’ve created a tailored solution that benefits both the people we serve and our network infrastructure,” says Karen Frew.
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