Glenbrook-Ohurua BESS
The Glenbrook Ohurua Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is one of New Zealand's largest grid-scale batteries. Located on land leased from New Zealand Steel at their Glenbrook site in south Auckland, Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 1 is close to Auckland's significant electricity load.
The facility comprises 56 Tesla Megapack 2 XL battery units with a combined capacity of 100 MW / 200 MWh, enough to power the equivalent of 44,000 homes at peak demand for up to two hours.
Construction began in July 2024, and the system became operational in early 2026. It stores surplus renewable electricity from geothermal, solar, wind and hydro sources, dispatching it during periods of peak demand.
Client
Contact Energy
LOCATION
Glenbrook, Auckland, New Zealand
COMPLETED
2026
Photography
Brett Phibbs
Our Scope
MDA was engaged by Contact Energy to provide acoustic consulting services from concept through to construction, including commissioning support. Our scope encompassed preparation of a SoundPLAN noise model to determine the noise budget available for the BESS plant within the Auckland Unitary Plan Glenbrook Steel Mill Precinct (I415) noise rules, assessment of construction noise compliance, and preparation of acoustic assessment reports suitable for resource consent.
MDA also provided acoustic advice during the BESS unit selection process and liaised directly with Tesla engineers on technical operational noise matters.
CHALLENGES
The project presented a unique noise design challenge. The adjacent Glenbrook Steel Mill Precinct operates under Auckland Unitary Plan rules that create an unusual consenting environment, making it essential to fully understand how the BESS units would function within it before noise emissions could be comprehensively analysed.
This complexity called for a collaborative, engineering-led approach — bringing together Tesla, Contact Energy, and Marshall Day Acoustics. The project demonstrated how a small, focused client-consultant team, united by strong communication and a shared commitment to solving engineering and environmental challenges, can deliver excellent outcomes.
PROJECT TEAM
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