Electricity distributor Counties Power Limited, Auckland, New Zealand, and Australian battery technology company Relectrify Pty Ltd, Abbotsford, Victoria, have joined forces to deploy New Zealand’s largest battery system repurposing electric vehicle (EV) batteries to-date. The battery system combines Relectrify’s BMS+Inverter technology with batteries from nine Nissan Leaf electric vehicles to store over 120kWh of energy. Alongside Counties Power and Relectrify, further international power utility and automotive collaborators are participating in this pilot in order to validate the technology for use in key overseas markets.
Already in operation in Counties Power’s utility testing lab providing 380-415V 3-phase peak-shaving, the battery system will be installed on a priority site on Counties Power’s network where it could provide redundancy, flexibility and resiliency for customers in a remote rural area. This highlights the value that cost-effective batteries can unlock to provide reliable, affordable power in isolated communities and power grids more broadly. Following on from prior installations, including a recent Chicago industrial storage solution, Counties Power’s battery system was installed remotely in close collaboration between Counties Power’s and Relectrify’s technology teams.
“It’s a pleasure to work together with Counties Power to deploy affordable battery storage,” said Relectrify Co-Founder and CEO Valentin Muenzel. “While already in significant use in commercial and industrial storage, this install further proves our technology’s suitability for utility storage. By increasing the lifetime and reducing the cost of both new and second-life batteries, Relectrify is leveraging our BMS+Inverter to collaborate with leading energy storage players worldwide.”
About Counties Power
Counties Power is a full-service energy solutions provider and the electricity distribution provider for the electricity network that runs from coast to coast across the southern Auckland and northern Waikato regions. The company is 100 percent owned by the Counties Power Consumer Trust who holds the shares on behalf of electricity consumers. The region is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, with the company upscaling the business to meet demand, invest in core business and new technology, from battery to smart grid infrastructure.
About Relectrify
Relectrify is a developer of advanced battery control solutions enabling lower cost and longer-lived batteries. Founded in 2015 and based in Melbourne, Australia, Relectrify works in strategic collaboration with battery manufacturers, integrators and companies deploying large volumes of new or second-life batteries around the world.
