The power and the passion
THE $200M BIG BATTERY PROJECT THAT IS SET TO ELEVATE GEELONG T0 THE FOREFRONT OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY BOOM
AS the world grapples with developing new energy sources, the Victorian big battery project is about to put the Geelong region at the forefront of the renewable energy boom.
Currently under construction on a patch of Moorabool farmland about
14km northwest of the Geelong CBD, the project is expected to be one of the world’s biggest batteries upon completion.
The $200m project, led by French renewable energy developer Neoen in partnership with Ausnet and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla, will connect a mega battery to the Victorian grid to provide an automatic response in the event of unexpected network outages.
The Victorian Big Battery project is a result of Neoen’s successful bid to win an Australian Energy Market Operator contract to provide an automatic response to outages. The 450MWh battery is expected to be capable of providing an hour of power to 500,000 people.
“We are delighted to have won the SIPS contract and would like to thank AEMO and the Victorian government for placing their trust in us,” Neoen Australia managing director Louis de Sambucy said.
“We are looking forward to working once again with Tesla and AusNet to deliver this world-leading battery storage facility over the coming months.
“We are extremely proud to be launching a project of this scale and innovation in support of Victoria’s clean energy transition.”
Once operational, it is hoped the battery will free up an extra 250 megawatts of peak capacity on the power interconnector between Victoria and New South Wales. This will provide a buffer for the grid on hot days, reducing the risk of blackouts, while also slashing power bills by more than $220m over the next decade.
“The big battery will help protect our network in summer, create jobs and drive down energy prices — as well as supporting our economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,” Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“By securing one of the biggest batteries in the world, Victoria is taking a decisive step away from coal-fired power and embracing new technologies that will unlock more renewable energy than ever before.”
Backed by the federal government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the $200m project will also double the size of the 150MW “Tesla Big Battery” in Hornsdale, which is credited with saving South Australians $150m from power bills in two years of operation at 100MW capacity.
Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the big battery was “more important now than ever to support jobs, families and businesses”.
CEFC chief Ian Learmonth said the “world-class” project would support bringing more renewable generators online in Victoria while ensuring the stability of the grid.
Environment Victoria chief executive Jono La Nauze was quick to celebrate when the project was announced last year.
“At 300 megawatts, it’s twice the size of the Tesla big battery in South Australia. This is a game-changer for Victoria’s transition from old coalburning power stations to clean energy,” Mr La Nauze said.
The Victorian Big Battery is expected to create more than 85 local jobs and deliver over $200m in investment into the Geelong region, and is hoped to be operational by the end of 2021.