Genesis Energy opens its 100 MW / 200 MWh Huntly battery in New Zealand

The opening

Genesis Energy has opened its first grid-scale battery energy storage system at the Huntly Power Station, New Zealand's largest thermal power plant, on the North Island. Energy-Storage.News reported the opening on October 15, 2026, describing a 100 MW / 200 MWh system with two hours of storage. One listing carried a later date, so the exact day may differ slightly between outlets.

The equipment

According to that report, the system uses 70 containerized Intensium Shift+ units supplied by Saft, a battery business owned by TotalEnergies. Containerized batteries are built in factories and installed on site, which shortens construction time.

Cost

Carbon Pulse reported a final cost of NZ$130 million, about NZ$5 million under budget. Earlier coverage put the project at roughly NZ$140 million to NZ$150 million, so the figure differs across sources.

What the battery is for

• Supporting the grid during periods of high demand.
• Complementing Genesis's nearby solar projects by storing power for later use.
• Helping New Zealand's electricity system, which is under pressure from declining natural gas supply.

A second stage is planned

In April 2026, Saft signed a 200 MWh extension contract with Genesis. That would bring total capacity to 400 MWh, with commissioning of stage two planned for 2028.

Why it matters

Batteries store energy when supply is plentiful and release it when demand peaks, which reduces the need to run gas or coal plants only for short periods. A battery at a thermal plant site can also reuse existing grid connections. Storage does not create energy, so it works best alongside new generation and stronger wires, as in the Tennessee Valley project covered in our report on DOE's TVA grid projects.

What to watch

• How the battery performs during winter peaks.
• Whether stage two stays on schedule for 2028.
• How other New Zealand and Australian projects, such as the 400 MW / 1,600 MWh Teebar project in Queensland that reached financial close in October, compare.