Tesla has brought its largest battery energy storage project in New Zealand online, adding a massive new Megapack installation capable of helping power more than 44,000 homes during periods of peak electricity demand.
The Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 1 project in South Auckland officially entered service this week, becoming not only Tesla’s biggest battery deployment in the country, but also the first site in New Zealand to use the company’s Megapack 2XL technology.
Developed by Contact Energy, the grid-scale battery system is made up of 56 Tesla Megapack 2XL units with a total capacity of 100MW/200MWh. According to Contact Energy, the installation can provide enough electricity to match the consumption of approximately 44,000 homes for just over two hours during periods of peak winter demand.
While battery projects of this scale were once considered years-long infrastructure developments, advances in battery technology have significantly shortened deployment timelines. Construction on the Glenbrook facility only began in July 2024, meaning the project went from groundbreaking to full operation in less than two years.
Tesla supplied the Megapacks, handled commissioning, and will continue to oversee long-term maintenance of the site.
One of the most important features of the installation is its speed. The battery system can respond to grid signals in approximately 0.2 seconds, allowing it to inject electricity into the grid almost instantly when demand surges or supply unexpectedly drops.
Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge described the project as “a bit like the Swiss Army Knife of the electricity system,” thanks to its ability to quickly absorb excess renewable energy and release it back onto the grid when needed most.
New Zealand relies heavily on renewable electricity generation, particularly hydroelectric and geothermal power, but the country still faces seasonal energy pressures during winter months when electricity demand rises sharply. Large-scale battery storage helps smooth out those fluctuations by storing surplus renewable generation during off-peak periods and discharging it during peak demand or outages.
The project was completed on schedule and under budget, with a final cost of NZD $163 million ($136 million/US$99.4 million).
The Glenbrook site could soon become even larger. Contact Energy has already secured the option to expand the facility to 130MW, which would make it the largest battery storage project in New Zealand.
The company is also planning a second phase at the same location. Known as Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 2, the future project is expected to add another 200MW/400MWh of storage capacity and could be operational by early 2028.
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