Meridian Energy & Rio Tinto

In 2024, Meridian Energy and New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter signed a ground-breaking demand response agreement that effectively turned the smelter into an enormous battery to help New Zealand maintain security of supply in the event of a dry year or other fuel shortage. This played a key role in maintaining electricity supply for New Zealand homes and businesses in winter 2024, as spot prices surged in the face of historically low lake levels and an unexpected and unprecedented shortage of gas. The deal has also set a precedent for the role of industrial demand response in managing fuel shortages.