Enhancing New Zealand's energy with Glenbrook BESS

The Glenbrook Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project is tackling Aotearoa New Zealand's electricity capacity and supply quality challenges in South Auckland.

By boosting renewable energy flexibility, it will deliver reliable electricity to thousands of homes, enhancing the stability of the power grid while also reducing the region’s carbon footprint.

The Glenbrook BESS project began with the task of designing a 100-megawatt (200-megawatt hour) Tesla Megapack battery system to fulfil the peak winter demand of over 44,000 residences. Working with Contact Energy and Tesla, Beca provided critical consulting services such as early site layout, cost estimation and programme creation to support investment decision activities. Additionally, Beca participated in a small equipment selection group, in which the criteria of various BESS aggregators were analysed. From this exercise, Contact was able to gain the confidence to select Tesla as their partner in BESS equipment. 

One of our most significant challenges was improving the site plan to balance electrical and civil costs. Our team made changes based on geotechnical advice, which ultimately reduced costs and accelerated the project's development. In the end, our specialists provided a design that was optimised to support the required technical and commercial outcomes, and the project was prepared for successful stakeholder interaction and the final design stages. 

Working closely with Tesla, we integrated advanced technologies in the site design to ensure a smooth BESS implementation. Tesla's equipment specifications and requirements drove much of the design process, demanding early and continuous engagement. We collaborated with Tesla early in the project to understand their equipment requirements and incorporate them into our design, assuring compatibility and efficiency.

The Glenbrook BESS meets urgent energy requirements while also laying the groundwork for the renewable energy transition. It will store excess renewable energy generated during off-peak hours, ensuring a steady supply during peak demand and unforeseen interruptions. This not only improves energy resilience but also helps to shift away from fossil fuels.

In addition, our project teams worked methodically on civil and construction aspects such as fire truck access routes, drainage management and cut-and-fill exercises to save civil costs. By reducing dependency on fossil fuels and promoting the use of wind and solar electricity, we are actively contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for New Zealand.