A 100MW/200MWh battery storage project in Western Australia is about to begin its operational test phase ahead of commissioning.
The battery energy storage system (BESS), in the Kwinana region of Western Australia (WA) south of state capital Perth, is the largest project of its kind in the state so far, and is being delivered by government-owned energy generation-retail company Synergy.
With the start of testing announced by the state government yesterday (14 May) WA premier Mark McGowan described batteries as “critical to our energy future,” allowing the state to harness the abundant rooftop solar resources installed by its homes and businesses.
The system will perform renewable energy load shifting, storing surplus energy generated at off-peak times and discharging it into the local grid in late afternoon and evening peak periods. As a flagship project of the WA government, it is also aimed at providing learnings for other large-scale projects.
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Installation of the Kwinana BESS began in the middle of last year, with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) duties contracted by Synergy to NHOA, the energy storage system integrator formerly known as Engie EPS and owned by Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC).
The 100MW lithium iron phosphate (LFP) system will be connected to the network of another state entity, Western Power Network.
It is now ready to start performing operational test cycles of charging and discharging into the network, and will start doing so under non-test conditions later this year as it enters commercial operation.
The Kwinana BESS will be superceded as WA’s biggest project of its type by two projects announced by the state government just a few days ago as it unveiled its budget for the 2023-2024 period.
As reported by Energy-Storage.news on Friday, WA is funding two large-scale BESS projects which Synergy will also deliver. Both with up to 4-hour duration, one is going to be 500MW/2,000MWh and built at the site of Collie, a coal-fired power plant, the other will be a 200MW project with up to 800MWh capacity, to also be built at the Kwinana site.
Sungrow nets 500MWh Australia deal
In other Australian news, Sungrow recently signed a three-year energy storage system (ESS) supply deal with Solar Juice, an Australian wholesale and distributor of solar PV, inverters, storage and related equipment.
The Chinese PV inverter manufacturer and BESS manufacturer-integrator signed the deal at the beginning of this month at the Smart Energy conference and expo in Sydney. It is Sungrow’s biggest deal in Australia to date, company representatives said.
Energy-Storage.news’ publisher Solar Media will host the 1st Energy Storage Summit Asia, 11-12 July 2023 in Singapore. The event will help give clarity on this nascent, yet quickly growing market, bringing together a community of credible independent generators, policymakers, banks, funds, off-takers and technology providers. For more information, go to the website.
