Electrix installs equipment for Mercury

MEDIA RELEASE

28 August 2018

Electrix New Zealand installs equipment for Mercury’s new grid- connected battery project

Electrix New Zealand Mercury’s recent launch of a scalable, direct grid-connected battery trial has been lauded across the electrical industry.

This new ‘battery energy storage system’ enables energy to be drawn, stored and returned to the national grid. The integration is intended to trial large-scale battery energy as a complementary source of energy to existing electrical energy systems and supply during consumer demand peaks. Electrix New Zealand was selected as the principal contractor by Mercury, to install the Tesla battery equipment and the associated equipment.

Karl Wallace, Perimeter Director – Power, Facilities and Transport (PFT), Electrix NZ says, “Mercury’s direct grid-connected battery trial project is commendable in its potential for future sustainability and supply. We feel privileged to have provided the services of our business teams to execute and complete the contract works.”

Electrix NZ’s scope of works was to construct a concrete pad to accommodate the Tesla equipment that is comprised of eight battery storage banks and two invertors supplied from the USA. The works further required the installation of the battery equipment, a new switchboard, a new 11kV transformer, installation of cable containment and a new 11kV cable from the switch room to the switch yard. Project delivery was undertaken by Electrix NZ’s PFT team with support provided by the Distribution Services team. Electrix NZ’s engineers assisted the commissioning teams to bring the system on line.

The grid–connected battery is located at Mercury’s R&D Centre in Penrose and has the potential to provide a stable source of energy in the event of an outage.

ENDS

About Electrix New Zealand

Electrix New Zealand is a leading provider of engineering, construction and maintenance services to asset owners in the utility, industrial, commercial, resources, and infrastructure sectors.

Electrix has been in business in New Zealand since 1955. The company commenced operations in Australia in 1997. Growth is an important part of our strategy as we continue to extend our capability and explore opportunities in new markets.

In addition to our home markets, we have completed major projects in; Fiji, American Samoa, Indonesia, the Maldives and the Marshall Islands.

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