Batteries for powerline bushfire safety

RedFlow Limited recently finalised a supply contract for 10 zinc-bromine battery-based remote area power systems (RAPS) with Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), the independent statutory safety regulator responsible for electrical and gas safety in Victoria.

Each RAPS system comprises a 5 kW packaged zinc-bromine battery-based energy storage system, together with roof-mounted solar panels and a packaged diesel generation set. The approximate contract value is $1 million.

RedFlow will install these systems in the Daylesford and Euroa districts as part of the Victorian Government’s initiative of setting up a Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce to investigate alternative measures to reduce bushfire risk, following the report of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

RedFlow is currently installing the first three units in Daylesford and the remaining systems will be delivered shortly.

Phil Hutchings, CEO of RedFlow, said: “This order illustrates yet another application for energy storage systems based on our high-performance zinc-bromine batteries, [that can be] integrated with both solar PV and diesel systems for power generation.

“These units are designed to demonstrate how selected parts of the overhead electricity network can be turned off on high-risk fire days in the Victorian summer. The RedFlow systems will allow electricity supply to be maintained to households when that occurs and do so in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.”