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The first session in Priority One’s 2026 Energy Event Series was on energy storage, offering organisations a practical way to strengthen energy resilience and flexibility. Spanning electrical, electrochemical, chemical, and mechanical technologies, energy storage enables smarter use of energy, supports cost optimisation, and unlocks greater integration of sustainable energy sources.
Attendees heard from a range of speakers on how to take the next steps towards a more resilient and diversified approach to energy storage in their business. Here we share key insights from that session, along with a recording of all presentations.
Key takeaways
- Start with your energy challenges – not the technology.
- Battery storage delivers the greatest value when paired with a clear business objective.
- Solar becomes more valuable when excess generation can be stored and used later.
- Fire risks are manageable when systems are designed correctly.
- Thermal energy storage and waste heat recovery could unlock significant energy savings for industrial businesses.
- There is no single solution – every business will require a different approach.
Define the problem before choosing a battery solution: Eric Wolters, Engineering Advisor Business Development at Powerco and freelance consultant
One of the biggest misconceptions about battery storage is that it’s simply backup power. In reality, batteries can solve a range of business challenges, including reducing peak demand charges, storing excess solar generation, improving power quality and increasing resilience during outages.
This session also highlighted that battery storage is becoming increasingly valuable for electricity networks. In some situations, strategically placed batteries can improve voltage and reduce the need for costly network upgrades.
Things to consider before investing:
- What energy challenge are you trying to solve?
- Do you experience high peak demand charges?
- Are you exporting excess solar energy during the day?
- Would improved resilience reduce operational risk?
Key insight: The best battery investments solve a clearly defined operational problem rather than simply adding new technology.
Build your business case around value – not just batteries: Nikk King, MD, Active Power & Control
A battery is only one part of an energy system. The greatest value often comes from how batteries integrate with solar generation, building operations and future electricity markets.
As electricity pricing changes, businesses may be able to unlock multiple value streams from a single battery system, including reducing electricity costs, improving power quality and participating in future grid support services.
Successful projects also depend on choosing the right system architecture, quality equipment and experienced delivery partners.
Before progressing a project, consider:
- How often will the battery charge and discharge?
- What return on investment are you expecting?
- Could future electricity markets create additional value?
- Does your current infrastructure support battery integration?
Key insight: A well-designed battery system should support long-term business objectives – not just today’s electricity bill.
Battery fire risk: Kevin Weller, Senior Fire Engineer at Beca & Ben Hume, Regional Manager, Beca
Modern commercial battery systems are significantly safer than many people assume. Sophisticated monitoring systems continuously detect faults before they develop into larger problems, while fire engineering focuses on preventing incidents from spreading if they do occur.
For larger installations, planning should include fire separation distances, emergency response planning and early engagement with Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Businesses should also remember that battery fires behave differently from conventional fires, meaning emergency response plans should reflect those differences.
Good design includes:
- Appropriate battery location
- Fire separation between systems
- Early fault detection
- Emergency planning with Fire and Emergency New Zealand
- Equipment that complies with New Zealand standards
Key insight: Fire risk shouldn’t prevent businesses from considering battery storage –but it should be considered from the beginning of every project.
Thermal Energy Storage: Hendri Barnard, Associate – Process Engineering, Beca
Not all energy storage involves electricity. Thermal energy storage allows businesses to store heat when energy is abundant or inexpensive and use it later when demand increases.
For manufacturers with large process heat requirements, this can improve efficiency and increase the value of renewable electricity. The challenge is that every industrial site uses energy differently, making detailed energy analysis essential before investing.
Businesses considering thermal energy storage should understand:
- Process heating demand
- Electricity pricing throughout the day
- Existing solar generation
- Opportunities to recover waste heat
- How heating, cooling and electrical systems interact across the site
Key insight: The strongest opportunities often come from looking at an entire site’s energy system rather than individual pieces of equipment.
Industrial Heat Upgrade: Adeline Bartoletti, Kelvius
A significant amount of industrial energy is lost as waste heat.
Emerging technologies are now making it possible to capture that waste heat, upgrade it and return it to manufacturing processes. Rather than replacing existing equipment, these systems work alongside current infrastructure to recover energy that would otherwise be lost.
Industries with continuous heating processes – particularly food and beverage manufacturing – may have some of the greatest opportunities to benefit.
Potential benefits include:
- Lower overall energy consumption
- Reduced emissions
- Better use of existing process heat
- Improved energy efficiency without redesigning entire production systems
Key insight: Recovering and reusing waste heat could become an important part of industrial decarbonisation over the coming decade.
Energy storage isn’t a single technology – it’s a collection of tools that can help businesses reduce costs, improve resilience and prepare for a lower-emissions future.
Whether that’s batteries, thermal energy storage or waste heat recovery, the right solution starts with understanding how your business uses energy today.
Next in our energy event series…
Join our next event Transport & Logistics: Explore the technologies, fuels and solutions shaping the future on 4-6.30pm, on 3 September at The Tauranga Club. Register now.
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