Australian utility unveils plans for 800 MWh massive battery

March 17, 2023 David Carroll

From pv journal Australia

Synergy, an power generator and retailer owned by the Western Australian authorities, plans to put in a 200 MW/800 MWh battery power storage system alongside a 100 MW/200 MWh massive battery that’s presently being constructed on the website of the decommissioned Kwinana energy station, south of Perth.

Synergy has submitted a growth utility to the Joint Growth Evaluation Panel for an estimated AUD 450 million ($300 million) grid-scale battery to be constructed alongside the 100 MW/200 MWh Kwinana Huge Battery, which is able to begin operations in April. It was initially anticipated that the battery can be operational by September 2022, however the mission has been delayed because of issues related to world provide chain points.

As soon as accomplished, the Kwinana Huge Battery will connect with the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS), the state’s fundamental grid, and can have the capability to energy the equal of 160,000 properties for 2 hours. Synergy, which is able to function and handle the battery power storage system, stated it is going to be a significant element of its future asset combine, as Western Australia’s state-owned coal energy stations might be retired by 2030.

“Batteries are versatile, they supply grid stability and help the combination of extra renewable power into the community,” stated Synergy Chief Govt Officer David Fyfe.

Fyfe stated the Kwinana Huge Battery and the proposed second power storage techniques are a part of the utility’s dedication to deploy 1,100 MW of recent large-scale storage by the tip of the last decade. It goals to make sure provide stability because the continued uptake of rooftop photo voltaic and renewables forces modifications within the power system.

Western Australian Power Minister Invoice Johnston has additionally backed the introduction of large-scale power storage to help the combination of extra renewable power into the grid. He stated it’ll clean fluctuations in demand and renewable power provide and considerably contribute to grid safety and stability.

“Rising power storage over the subsequent decade might be essential to addressing system safety dangers, corresponding to excessive ranges of rooftop photo voltaic technology, and making certain dependable energy provide to Western Australia’s fundamental electrical energy grid,” he stated.

Synergy stated development of the second massive battery will start as quickly as doable, after planning approval is obtained. The utility is already partaking potential suppliers and securing lengthy lead gadgets for the mission.

The proposed Synergy massive battery is one in all quite a few power storage initiatives being pursued in Western Australia. The Australian unit of French renewable power developer Neoen has filed planning paperwork to develop a 1 GW/4 GWh battery close to the coal city of Collie in WA’s southwest and a 200 MW/400 MWh battery at Muchea northeast of Perth.

Victoria-based developer Sunshot Power can also be exploring large-scale power storage, floating the potential for a 600 MWh to 800 MWh battery to be constructed as a part of a proposed inexperienced hydrogen industrial hub close to Collie, Western Australia.