Wellington battery project to super-charge big community spend
MILLIONS of dollars of community spending looks likely to be pumped into Wellington following imminent approval of the giant battery storage project at the local power sub-station.
Wellington local and Dubbo Deputy Mayor Councillor Richard Ivey said that the project had already passed committee stage and only waits upon final approval of the full council at its next meeting.
Part of the nearly eight-hectare standalone lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) battery project will include large, annualised community contributions by the proponents.
“The total amount of money over the 20-year life of the project will be about $5.6 million, and that will be indexed to inflation over that time,” Cr Ivey said.
“One of the proponents said that they would like to money to go into youth development programs, but maybe some welfare programs, local sport, that sort of thing,” he added.
The proposed BESS is to be located on about 7.8 hectares of private land, with a maximum capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) and 400 megawatt hours (MWH) and would connect directly to the adjacent Wellington Town Substation, reducing the impact and disturbance of the development on the community.
Cr Ivey said that, rather than just holding electricity, the battery development is aimed at levelling-out power output from the sub-station.
“It’s really designed to regulate the output of power, rather than just store it, to overcome the ebbs and flows of output.
“We’re looking at it starting later this year, with a community consultation committee to determine how the money in the fund is spent,” Cr Ivey added.
He added that the project is just one of a number of positive indicators for the region’s second largest community.
“There are some good things you can see around town now,” Cr Ivey said.
“A few shops that have been shut are starting to get new tenants, there’s a good feeling in the community,” he concluded.