Powerco has initiated a pioneering trial in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, in a significant leap forward for renewable energy infrastructure. This innovative project involves installing the country’s first pole-mounted battery energy storage systems (BESS) on power poles in Tauranga’s suburb of Greerton. This endeavour marks a monumental shift towards more sustainable and efficient power distribution systems.
With the growing urban population and subsequent energy consumption, traditional power supply methods are struggling to keep up. Powerco’s bold move to adapt and innovate is aimed at addressing these challenges head-on. According to Karen Frew, General Manager of Electricity at Powerco, “The pole-mounted batteries are designed to automatically store power during the night when the electricity network has spare capacity and then release it to supplement the network and maintain power quality when it would otherwise be short.”
These batteries are strategically mounted on existing power poles, seamlessly integrating with the current infrastructure. The primary function of these batteries is to store energy during off-peak times, when electricity demand is low, and release it during peak times, when demand is high. This helps alleviate the load on the main grid, ensuring a more balanced and reliable power supply to the residents of Greerton. Frew explains, “Greerton has undergone intensive in-fill housing, meaning there are more houses in the neighbourhood than what the electricity network there was originally designed for.”
Powerco’s pole-mounted batteries are a significant milestone in creating more sustainable energy solutions. By storing and distributing energy more efficiently, these systems reduce the need for extensive new infrastructure, ultimately lowering the environmental footprint of power distribution. Frew adds, “The chargeable batteries are an innovative way of supplying the neighbourhood at peak electricity use times, such as first thing in the morning and in the late afternoon and early evenings when everyone is home making meals and using appliances.”
The residents of Greerton stand to benefit significantly from this trial. With a more reliable power supply, they can experience fewer outages and more stable electricity during high-demand periods. Powerco highlights that “These areas with intensive housing can now benefit from more consistent and reliable electricity supply.” Frew emphasises, “We’re the first electricity distribution company to use this innovative technology in New Zealand. It’s used successfully in Australia. However, as they are new equipment on our network, we’ll be monitoring their performance to ensure they are helping supply enough power during peak demand in the neighbourhood.”
As this trial progresses, it will provide valuable insights into the scalability and efficiency of pole-mounted BESS. If successful, this model could be expanded to other regions, setting a new standard for energy distribution worldwide. The company says, “By trialling these systems in Tauranga, we aim to gather important data that will influence how we manage and expand our network in the future.”
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Sandra Nguyen says:
The pole-mounted battery deployment in Bay of Plenty could meaningfully reduce infrastructure costs compared to traditional substation-based storage, which warrants tracking across other regional networks.
Penny L. says:
The cost savings angle is where this gets real for other councils watching from the sidelines. Reckon we’ll see a few more regions give this a proper go once Bay of Plenty publishes their numbers.