20 September 2024
Insights and Innovations from the Oceania Renewable Power Summit
Earlier this week, McKay Manager Renewables, Lauren Faithfull, had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Oceania Renewable Power summit held in Auckland. The two-day conference and exhibition brought together industry professionals, renowned speakers, and delegates from New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific, bringing attention to the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy generation throughout Oceania.
The summit provided a fantastic platform for like-minded individuals to engage in discussions around four key themes: construction, market integration, financing, and asset management. With key topics including funding models, investment strategies, regulatory frameworks, social acceptance, and engaging the supply chain – all essential considerations in driving sustainable growth in the sector.
From an Aotearoa perspective, we take great pride in being a leader in the renewable energy sector but where we have the opportunity for growth is in resiliency and affordability. The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources presents a notable challenge; however, it was heartwarming to hear the numerous innovative plans and strategies being spearheaded by industry stakeholders throughout New Zealand to address this issue.
The prominence of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in these plans demonstrated the growing traction and importance of grid batteries in the renewable energy landscape. McKay is proud to have been associated with the development of large-scale grid batteries, including our work as head electrical contractor on the 100MW/200MWh Ruakākā Battery Energy Storage System project in collaboration with Meridian and Saft.
During the summit, the Electricity Authority announced the launch of its Power Innovation Pathway, a significant milestone in the pursuit of regulatory innovation within the industry. As a company that places innovation at the centre of our operations, we applaud the Electricity Authority for recognising the value of innovation to their regulatory challenges and fostering a conducive environment for sustainable energy progression.
McKay’s attendance at the Oceania Renewable Power summit proved to be an educational and enriching experience, which strengthened the collective efforts and initiatives aimed at shaping a more sustainable and resilient energy future for Oceania.
With McKay Manager Renewables, Lauren Faithfull recently returning from maternity leave, it was fantastic to see her joined, post conference, with her daughter.
