Salt plant makes 75% of the power it needs

Dominion Salt, a salt manufacturing factory at Lake Grassmere, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, is integrating a Tesla Powerpack with wind generation so it only needs to access the national grid for about 25% of its power needs.

In what is said to be an Australasian first, Vector Energy Solutions will combine the Tesla Powerpack battery storage with Dominion Salt’s 660 kW wind turbine at its Lake Grassmere works. Integration of the battery storage system means an estimated 75% of the site’s energy needs will be met on-site rather than from the national grid. The system will be fully functional before the end of the year.

Vector Group General Manager Development Brian Ryan said the Powerpack integration with Dominion Salt’s wind turbine is at the intersection of technology and sustainability.

“The solution Vector has created for Dominion Salt provides sustainability and resilience benefits to the salt producer.

“The Tesla Powerpack will help with peak shaving and load management while ‘firming or smoothing’ the often-intermittent energy generated by wind turbines.

“The addition of a 250 kW battery storage system, storing up to 570 kW hours of energy, will allow Dominion Salt to maximise the use of its wind turbine and store any excess generation for use at other times.

“The control system, built specifically for Dominion Salt, will be remotely monitored, 24/7, to ensure it’s running optimally.”

Ryan said these new technologies are providing viable alternatives to businesses in that they provide real sustainability and commercial benefits.

He also said Vector is pursuing other opportunities in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands to deploy both on- and off-grid battery storage systems.