Saft and Genesis enter next phase of Huntly BESS with 200 MWh extension
Saft will deliver an additional 200 MWh extension to the initial contract, moving the Huntly BESS toward 400 MWh total capacity
Genesis Energy is expanding the Huntly Power Station BESS with commissioning of stage 2 planned for 2028
With this expansion, the Huntly site is set to become one of New Zealand’s largest BESS sites, co-located with a 1.2 GW power station
Paris, 28 April, 2026 - Two years after the award of the initial contract for the Huntly battery energy storage system (BESS), Genesis Energy Limited and Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, are entering a new phase by signing a 200 MWh extension. The expansion builds on the original 100 MW / 200 MWh BESS at Huntly Power Station on New Zealand’s North Island and will further strengthen the Huntly site’s firming and flexibility capabilities.
Genesis, one of New Zealand’s leading energy companies, is positioning energy storage as a core element of its Gen35 strategy, providing firming and flexibility to manage hydropower, wind and solar variability, price volatility and supply disruptions as New Zealand accelerates its renewable transition. These assets are essential to maintain power continuity and maximise the use of renewable generation as variable resources grow in the electricity mix.
In addition, BESS optimize gas turbine operation by avoiding low-efficiency operating modes, limiting sudden spikes and reducing overall gas consumption.
With this expansion, Huntly is set to become one of the largest BESS sites in the country, reaching a potential output of 400MWh, co-located with a 1.2 GW gas and coal-fired power station. This represents a significant milestone for New Zealand’s grid resilience and energy security.
Scaling Huntly with a 200 MWh battery extension demonstrates what utility-scale storage can deliver when backed by proven technology and end-to-end execution. Building on the first 100 MW / 200 MWh phase, Saft will provide additional lithium-ion containers, integrated power conversion and controls, supporting a more resilient and secure New Zealand power system.
Saft had proven an efficient and cost-effective partner in the delivery of stage one of the Huntly battery project. We were confident in selecting Saft once again to deliver stage two and look forward to continuing to work with them in helping secure a renewable energy future for New Zealand.
New Zealand has committed to reducing its net carbon emissions to 50 percent below gross 2005 levels by 2030, under the Paris Agreement. It also passed the Zero Carbon Act which commits the country to be zero carbon by 2050. Huntly Power Station is the single largest electricity generation site in New Zealand and plays a critical role in the country’s electricity market.
Building on the initial 100 MW / 200 MWh installation, Saft will deliver the additional capacity as an extension to the turnkey solution at Huntly, based on its Intensium Shift+ lithium-ion battery containers combined with power conversion and control systems. Commissioning of the expanded BESS is planned for 2028.
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About Saft
Saft specializes in advanced technology battery solutions for industry, from the design and development to the production, customization and service provision. For more than 100 years, Saft’s longer-lasting batteries and systems have provided critical safety applications, back-up power and propulsion for our customers. Our innovative, safe and reliable technology delivers high performance on land, at sea, in the air and in space.
Saft is powering industry and smarter cities, while providing critical back-up functionality in remote and harsh environments from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara Desert. Saft is a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, a broad energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.
We energize the world. www.saft.com
Press Contact
Saft
Belén d’Alexis, External Communications Manager
Tel.: +33 1 58 63 16 60, email: belen.dalexis@saft.com
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About Genesis Energy Limited
Genesis Energy is one of New Zealand’s largest electricity generators and retailers, with nearly 500,000 residential and business customers. It also supplies natural gas and LPG. With a range of renewable and thermal generation sites throughout the country, Genesis generates power for New Zealand through thermal, hydro and solar sources, with a grid-scale battery development underway at Huntly Power Station. Genesis has a 46% equity interest in the Kupe oil and gas field in Taranaki, and owns 65% of New Zealand’s largest EV charging company, ChargeNet.
Press Contact
Genesis
Estelle Sarney, External Communications Manager
Tel.: +64 27 269 6383, email: Estelle.sarney@genesisenergy.co.nz