By STEFAN BRADLEY
CEREMONIAL sods were turned last week to celebrate construction on a renewable energy project in Hazelwood North.
Bennetts Creek Battery Energy Storage System, is set to be a major player in Gippsland’s clean energy transition. The energy retailer behind the project, Flow Power, is offering special electricity prices to local neighbours.
While construction actually began a few months ago, Monday, September 14 was an opportunity for representatives from Flow Power, their project delivery partner Wärtsilä, and a trio of Latrobe City councillors to show up for the sod-turning and briefing on the standalone battery.
A standalone battery, also known as a standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), stores electrical energy which can be supplied to users on demand.
Flow Power says the project was part of its strategy to turn customers into participants in the renewable transition, pairing long-term renewable infrastructure with large-scale storage so more homes and businesses can access firmed renewable supply.
Bennetts Creek Battery is expected to be completed and operational in 2028. It has a footprint of about 2.3 hectares and is Flow Power’s 11th project, and its largest BESS to date. A new 66 kV transmission line will connect to the existing Morwell Terminal Substation.
Kait Williamson, Head of Community and Stakeholder Engagement at Flow Power, said the Bennetts Creek BESS, a 100 MW/223 MWh battery, was the company’s largest project to date and will help reduce emissions and electricity costs for customers.
“What our battery does, probably similar to other projects in the area because there’s so much existing infrastructure in the region – transitioning from coal or non-renewables to renewables – is something that will really benefit society as a whole, but also from a more local perspective,” she said.
“When you have battery storage available and generation projects, that optimal supply demand can put downward pressure on energy prices. And I know that’s something of a sensitive topic in recent times (energy prices).”
It’s not official until there’s a sod turning: Latrobe City councillors Leanne Potter (Budgeree Ward) and Rob Moffatt (Morwell River), Byron Serjeantson of Flow Power, and Latrobe City councillor Adele Pugsley (Moe Ward) do the honours.
Latrobe City Councillor (Moe Ward) Adele Pugsley said the battery was a much needed addition to the Latrobe Valley and all of Victoria.
“It will help maintain grid security (during) periods such as overnight or when it’s not appropriate for solar panels. So it’s really exciting to see this coming to fruition,” Cr Pugsley said.
Asked about potential disruption to local communities, Ms Williamson said for batteries they often heard questions about noise or traffic, and said they wanted to ensure communities could benefit from tailored initiatives like retail offers, sponsorship of events or community funds.
Flow Power says the local community benefits they are leading as part of the Bennetts Creek Battery is the Little Village Project in partnership with Kindred Spirit Enterprises and the Morwell Football-Netball Club’s Junior Football Academy Program.
Byron Serjeantson, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Flow Power, said the Bennetts Creek battery was a strategic asset that firms renewables for the long-term and aims to reduce electricity costs.
“For the energy transition to be successful, we need to connect to build new renewable energy generation, but also the storage that stores that during times when the sun’s not shining and the wind isn’t blowing,” he said.
“We play an important role in matching customer demand and renewable supply and making the whole system work together. And Bennetts Creek is a very important part of that puzzle. Before it’s even been built, Bennett’s Creek is already being incorporated into the products and the contracts that we offer to customers today, which is quite cool.
“And we’re utilising its future capacity to firm our wind and solar assets in Victoria that we contract. So this project will continue to do this for decades to come.”
Ms Williamson said households and businesses in and around the BESS, including in Morwell, Churchill, Hazelwood North and surrounding areas, will be eligible for a special discount off their electricity.
Asked about whether the batteries could power data centres, Ms Williamson said Flow Power “hasn’t had much dealings with data centres”.
“Predominately, we are solar farms and batteries, or combined solar farms and batteries, but some of our customers are (include) local councils and small and large businesses”.
Flow Powers partners are Wärtsilä, who are providing battery technology and intelligent control systems, and Zenviron, who are handling design and construction.
Managing director of Wärtsilä Energy Storage Australia, Suraj Narayan, said projects like Bennetts Creek were part of a broader transformation reshaping how Australian energy is produced, stored and delivered to the grid.
“Australia continues to add significant battery capacity because energy storage is now foundational to our energy system,” he said.
The battery assets can react faster than coal generators to ensure stability and reliability of the network.
Further information, including visuals, permits and associated documents, can be found at: flowpower.com.au/bennetts-creek-battery/
