The first of two large scale batteries that will support Victoria’s energy grid has been unveiled in Ballarat.
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio opened the Ballarat Energy Storage System (BESS), in Warrenheip on October 23.
BESS is a lithium ion large-scale battery that will deliver a 30-megawatt/30-megawatt hour supply which is capable of powering more than 20,000 homes for an hour of critical peak demand before being recharged.
The system will be able to respond to changing grid needs within milliseconds and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support critical peak demand.
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Minister for energy, environment and climate change Lily D’Ambrosio said it is part of our plan to transition to a more affordable, reliable and clean energy system.
“We’re modernising our electricity grid, strengthening our energy security and delivering real action on climate change.”
It’s one of two large-scale batteries that are part of the Victorian government’s energy storage initiative, which is supporting energy storage technologies, driving the development of clean technologies and boosting local economies.
The second large-scale battery is the Tesla 25 megawatt/50 mega-watt hour battery, which is integrated with the Gannawarra solar farm, south-west of Kerang.
This battery will store renewable energy on site.
Delivered by Edify Energy, it is also expected to provide grid support by summer 2018.
With $25m of funding provided by the Victorian government and the same amount matched by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, these two large-scale batteries are the most sophisticated energy storage initiatives in Australia.