The world’s largest battery, Hornsdale Power Reserve, is being expanded by 50 per cent to improve grid security and maximise the benefits of renewable energy.
International renewable energy developer Neoen, which owns the landmark “big battery” in South Australia, is expanding the capacity of the battery to 150MW/181.5 MWh.
The expansion provides an Australian first large-scale demonstration of the potential for battery storage to provide stabilising inertia services that are critical to the future integration of renewable energy.
Neoen estimates the Hornsdale Power Reserve, which uses Tesla’s Powerpacks, has saved consumers more than $50 million in its first year of operation. The expansion would see the capacity increase of 50 per cent online by mid-2020.
Its expansion will further support South Australia’s increased use of wind and solar energy.
The expanded battery capacity is expected to be online by mid 2020. It will continue to offer frequency control services to respond to grid events. It will also assist AEMO – the Australian Energy Market Operator – to manage system security while demonstrating the market potential of grid technologies.
The CEFC, working alongside Neoen, ARENA and the South Australian Government, has committed up to $50 million in project finance for the expansion. The investment is the first CEFC commitment to a stand-alone NEM-connected battery.
South Australia, Storage, Renewable energy
