South Australia has received another boost in its battle for improved power security following the completion of a new 30-megawatt battery on the Yorke Peninsula.
Key points:
- The battery is to provide power to the Yorke Peninsula region of SA
- It can provide back-up power to 4,500 customers in the region
- The storage facility took more than 30,000 hours to construct
The battery is set to provide improved power reliability for the region — which is prone to blackouts — and its owners say it is the first certified indoor battery in Australia that is connected to the energy grid.
The indoor battery storage facility may be much smaller than the world’s largest lithium-ion battery built in the state — by tech billionaire Elon Musk — but the projects share a similar purpose.
The ElectraNet project — built at Dalrymple — is a 30-megawatt battery, about a third of the size of Mr Musk’s Tesla battery built near Jamestown.
With South Australia’s battle to prevent blackouts well documented in recent years, the aim of the new SA battery is to further improve power security for the state.
ElectraNet chief executive Steve Masters said the battery was an example of how energy storage could strengthen the country’s power grid and improve reliability.
He said it would serve Yorke Peninsula customers and would help power homes and businesses in the event of an unplanned outage or blackout.
“The South Australian energy mix and landscape has changed significantly in recent years and the introduction of this battery on the network by ElectraNet is part of our support to transition to a low-carbon economy,” he said.
“On average, it can provide back-up power to 4,500 customers in the Dalrymple service area for two to three hours while connection to the grid is being restored.”
‘Good news for households and business’
The battery storage facility took more than 30,000 hours to construct and features 2,268 batteries, six transformers, 12 power stores and more than 28 kilometres of cabling.
PHOTO: Tesla’s 100-megawatt battery has been built near Jamestown. (ABC News: Nick Harmsen)
It was built by Adelaide company Consolidated Power Projects (CPP), who worked with international company ABB and battery provider Samsung to deliver the project and it will be operated by AGL.
AGL general manager development and construction Dave Johnson said the battery was good news for South Australian households.
“This battery will enhance security in the South Australian system and follows the launch of AGL’s Virtual Power Plant in SA,” Mr Johnson said.
“AGL believes energy storage technologies like this will create a bright future for low-cost power from renewables and that’s good news for households and business.”
The battery will rely on input from AGL’s Wattle Point Wind Farm, as well as rooftop solar.
The project received part funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) with construction completed in April last year.
Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-16/improved-power-security-for-sa-with-new-battery-completed/10718772
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