24221 (2025). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy

24221 (2025). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy: What work, if any, relating to storage is part of his focus on winter 2026?

Hon Simon Watts: We are taking several steps to enable investment in energy storage and ensure the electricity system has more resources to remain secure during ‘dry years’: • Our fast-track process will ensure more new power generation is built quicker, so we can reduce the demands on our hydro lakes. Over 400MW of new grid-scale batteries that are now due to come online in 2025 and 2026. • We made it clear that the electricity sector must contract for fuels to ensure security of supply. A larger stockpile of coal is being maintained through the Huntly Firming Options and gentailers are currently negotiating longer-term arrangements. • We’ve established a Woody Bioenergy Ministerial Taskforce to reduce barriers to fuels like wood pellets and chips, which can be stored and used to generate electricity during dry periods. • Similarly we are reversing the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration and are committed to removing regulatory barriers to importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), if needed. • The Electricity Authority has an ongoing programme of work to ensure market regulations support energy storage systems and emerging technologies. • And our review of the electricity market is also considering whether wider changes are needed to improve energy security and affordability, including for dry years.