Akuo Launches Construction of 200 MWh Battery Storage Facility in New Caledonia to Strengthen Grid Stability

French renewable energy producer Akuo has announced the start of construction of one of France’s largest electricity storage facilities in New Caledonia, marking a major step in strengthening the island territory’s power grid and accelerating the integration of renewable energy.

The project, located in the municipality of Boulouparis in New Caledonia’s South Province, will install more than 200 MWh of battery storage capacity. Once operational, the facility will be capable of delivering 50 MW of electricity for three hours per day over a 12-year contract period. The storage plant is scheduled to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2027.

According to Akuo, the facility will play a critical role in stabilising the electricity network by storing solar power generated during the day and reinjecting it into the grid during evening peak demand. With an effective capacity of 150 MWh, the system will be able to supply the equivalent of Nouméa’s electricity consumption for approximately three hours. The project will also provide advanced grid services, including rapid response to frequency and voltage fluctuations, as well as grid-forming capabilities that allow the network to be restarted in the event of a blackout.

The storage facility is expected to significantly improve grid resilience and support higher penetration of renewable energy in New Caledonia’s electricity mix. Energy storage has been identified as a cornerstone of the territory’s energy transition, enabling greater flexibility and reliability as renewable generation expands.

Akuo already has an established presence in New Caledonia, where it operates three solar power plants, including the 6 MWp Kwita Wije photovoltaic plant in Boulouparis, which is supported by a 3 MW / 3 MWh storage system. Beyond energy infrastructure, the company is also involved in local community initiatives, including support for a social coffee resale project and educational programmes focused on renewable energy awareness.

The project aligns with New Caledonia’s energy transition strategy, adopted in August 2023, which targets a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. A key component of the plan involves decarbonising the nickel and metallurgical sector, which accounts for around two-thirds of the territory’s electricity consumption, and replacing at least 50% of fossil energy used in the nickel industry with renewable energy by 2035.

The storage project is being developed through a public-private partnership, with financing provided by Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France, Banque de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Banque Calédonienne d’Investissement, and Bpifrance. Local customary groups, Wiwa and Wije, representing three indigenous tribes, are also participating in the project’s shareholding structure, enabling local communities to benefit economically throughout the facility’s operational life.

The project will benefit from both local and national tax exemption mechanisms, including New Caledonia’s local tax incentives and France’s LODEOM scheme. Under the power contract signed with Enercal, New Caledonia’s grid operator, the tax support is expected to help reduce overall system costs.

Commenting on the development, Bruno Bensasson, CEO of Akuo, said the company was pleased to have completed the project’s development and financing and to move into the construction phase. He added that the storage facility would play a key role in increasing the share of renewable energy in New Caledonia’s electricity mix and support the mining industry’s transition towards sustainable energy sources.