Developer Someva Renewables and utility AGL have proposed a project in New South Wales, Australia, combining wind, solar and up to 500MW/2,000MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity.
While wind power will account for the majority of the project’s capacity – 1.2GW out of 1.5GW – the news is still an encouraging development for the Australian solar sector. The developers aim to build the proposed Pottinger Energy Park within the NSW South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a region of the state earmarked for 2.5GW of new renewable capacity additions and transmission investments by the state government in 2022.
The proposed project is also notable as the developers plan to include co-located storage systems, with a capacity of 500MW/2GWh. While the companies did not specify how much of this battery energy storage system (BESS) would be used to store power from the park’s solar versus wind power generation facilities, solar-plus-storage projects of all capacities are thought to be of increasing importance to the global energy transition.
The South West REZ is one of five such zones in the state, and when originally announced, developers submitted applications for 49 projects with a combined power generation capacity of 34GW. Someva and AGL expect construction to begin in 2026, should the project receive the necessary government approvals.
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“As part of our co-design process, Someva has been engaging with the local community for over two years,” said Someva managing director Jamie Chievers. “During this time, we’ve been buoyed by the support the Pottinger Energy Park has received from local landowners, Traditional Owners, local businesses, local councils and the broader community.”
Energy-Storage.news’ publisher Solar Media will host the 1st Energy Storage Summit Australia, on 21-22 May 2024 in Sydney, NSW. Featuring a packed programme of panels, presentations and fireside chats from industry leaders focusing on accelerating the market for energy storage across the country. For more information, go to the website.
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