NZ Battery Project
The NZ Battery Project was set up in 2020 to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions for when our hydro lakes run low for long periods. A pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow was one of the options being explored.
The Government stopped the Lake Onslow investigations in late 2023. MBIE is continuing work on the question of security of supply during extended periods of low hydro inflows as part of its wider electricity system work programme.
The following documents were produced as part of the NZ Battery Project.
On this page
The following documents were produced as part of the NZ Battery Project investigations between 2020 and 2023. A second bundle of documents is currently being prepared for publishing on this webpage. Please subscribe to the NZ Battery Project e-news if you would like to receive an email notification when these documents are available. This will be the final NZ Battery Project e-newsletter.
Lake Onslow pumped hydro
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NZ Battery Project landscape and visual assessment - August 2021 [PDF 5.7MB]
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Addendum report, specialist report - landscape, NZ Battery Project: Lake Onslow PSS: Phase 1B feasibility study – July 2022 [PDF 90KB]
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Cultural Values Statement: The Lake Onslow option for the New Zealand Battery Project – December 2021 [PDF 1.7MB]
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Cultural Values Statement: The Lake Onslow option for the New Zealand Battery Project Phase 1B – August 2022 [PDF 2.2MB]
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Interim assessment of social impacts for Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme option [PDF 1.9MB]
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Feasibility Study Report: NZ Battery Project, Lake Onslow Pumped Storage Scheme – Volume 8, Appendix M – September 2022 [PDF 22MB]
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Hydrology, water quality and ecology of the lower Clutha – July 2022 [PDF 765KB]
Non-hydro technologies
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NZ Battery Other technologies scope development memorandum – September 2021 [PDF 153KB]
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Other Technologies Feasibility Study – Options Analysis Report [PDF 5.2MB]
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Other Technologies Feasibility Study – Feasibility Assessment Report [PDF 6.6MB]
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Carbon Capture and Storage in Geothermal Reservoirs – October 2022 [PDF 95KB]
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Options for green peaker generation – November 2022 [PDF 946KB]
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NZ Battery Project: Biofuel and LNG cost forecast – April 2023 [PDF 791KB]
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Modelling assumptions for fossil-fueled peaker generation – May 2023 [PDF 308KB]
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Modelling assumptions for green peaker generation – June 2023 [PDF 168KB]
Other technical reports
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Climate change impacts on New Zealand hydro catchment inflows and wind speeds - February 2022 [PDF 1.8MB]
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Assessment and Insights into Renewable Energy – September 2023 [PDF 5.1MB]
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New Zealand Battery Portfolio delivery options: Capacity markets study – May 2023 [PDF 589KB]
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Effects of uncertainty on generation investment decisions [PDF 388KB]
As noted in this report’s disclaimer on page 2, the work to complete this report was limited in scope and time. A more detailed report may reveal material issues that this report has not identified.
As noted in this report’s disclaimer on page 2, the work to complete this report was limited in scope and time. A more detailed report may reveal material issues that this report has not identified.
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NZ Battery Project cost of shortage study [PDF 1.2MB]
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Estimated gross benefits of NZ Battery options – May 2021 [PDF 10MB]
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Estimating the gross benefits of NZ Battery options – November 2022 [PDF 2.5MB]
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Estimating the gross benefits of NZ Battery options: Modelling Appendix – November 2022 [PDF 12MB]
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Economic modelling assumptions [PDF 682KB]
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NZ Battery: electricity market study – May 2021 [PDF 2.5MB]
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NZ Battery analysis input summary – March 2023 [PDF 3.7MB]
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NZ Battery: Review of Development Pipeline Costs – July 2022 [PDF 3.8MB]
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NZ Battery: OptGen/SDDP Market Modelling Report – January 2023 [PDF 1.8MB]
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Storage Options for the New Zealand Electricity Sector – July 2022 [PDF 1.6MB]
Ministerial Briefings
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Briefing 2122-0424 NZ Battery Project: update on hydro and other technologies – August 2021 [PDF 892KB]
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Briefing Joint Ministers meeting on the New Zealand Battery Project – April 2022 [PDF 694KB]
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NZ Battery Project – Update on the three Portfolio component technologies [PDF 401KB]
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NZ Battery Project – Further advice on the Portfolio option [PDF 222KB]
Cabinet Papers and Minutes of Decisions
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New Zealand Battery Project Indicative Business Case and Appendices – February 2023 [PDF 9.9MB]
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NZ Battery Project: Proposal to Advance Two Options to a Detailed Business Case [PDF 261KB]
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NZ Battery Project: Proposal to Advance Two Options to a Detailed Business Case – Minute Of Decision [PDF 137KB]
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December 2020 update on the NZ Battery Project [PDF 169KB]
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December 2020 update on the NZ Battery Project – Minute of Decision [PDF 199KB]
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June 2022 update on the New Zealand Battery Project [PDF 222KB]
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June 2022 update on the New Zealand Battery Project – Minute of Decision [PDF 134KB]
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New Zealand Battery Project – progressing to the next phase – Cabinet Paper [PDF 288KB]
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New Zealand Battery Project: progressing to the next phase – Minute of Decision [PDF 136KB]