80 MW batteries to power Victoria

The Victorian Government has announced plans to build two large-scale batteries as part of its energy storage initiative.

The two batteries will collectively provide 55 MW of energy and 80 MWh of storage capacity. The projects are being delivered by private consortia Edify Energy and Spotless Sustainability Services, with $25 million from the Labor government and matched funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

The Tesla 25 MW/50 MWh battery will be integrated with the Gannawarra Solar Farm — south-west of Kerang — and will store renewable energy produced on-site. The integrated battery and solar farm will be capable of operating at full capacity for two hours or providing power to at least 800 households for 24 hours.

The second battery is a 30 MW/30 MWh system connected directly to a vital grid intersection at a substation at Warrenheip. Located at the existing Ballarat terminal substation, it will not only capture excess energy generated from renewable sources in the region and ease transmission congestion, but also reduce the need to expand the substation. During times of peak demand, it can power 20,000 households for one hour.

This will be able to deliver crucial power supply, frequency control and related back-up services in milliseconds to maintain stability in the network for Western Victoria.

Construction has already begun, with both projects expected to be operational in time for next summer’s peak.

These two large-scale, grid-connected batteries will not only allow currently unused renewable energy to be stored instead of wasted, but also inject electricity into the grid at times of peak demand in an area known for transmission congestion, said Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg.

“We are continuing to modernise our electricity grid, strengthen our energy security and deliver real action on climate change,” said Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio.

Image caption: Gannawarra Solar Farm. Image credit: Edify Energy.