PHILIP HOPKINS
By PHILIP HOPKINS
ENERGY Australia is to build an $800 million, 350 megawatt-capacity battery in the Latrobe Valley, that is expected to be in operation before the end of 2026.
The battery, which will provide 350MW for four hours, is based on a 1400MWh battery capacity. It will be built next to Energy Australia’s gas-fired Jeeralang power station at Hazelwood North, just south of Morwell.
Construction is expected to take 12-18 months and will create more than 80 jobs.
The battery will be known as the Wooreen Energy Storage System (WESS). ‘Wooreen’ is a Gunaikurnai language name meaning ‘light’. Energy Australia was gifted the name by Aunty Doris Paton and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation.
Utility-scale batteries store low-cost energy, such as excess renewable energy. When demand for power is higher and there is less renewable energy available, such as at night, the stored energy is available for use. This aims to keep costs down for customers.
Energy Australia, which owns the Yallourn W power station, says that battery storage can also help reduce the potential for blackouts and any need for ‘load shedding’ when there is a supply imbalance.
In this way, they integrate renewable energy into the grid and ensure that energy remains reliable.
The Jeerelang site was chosen as the preferred location for the battery based on land availability and optimal connection to the grid. However, the battery will not be part of Jeeralang’s operation.
The Hazelwood power terminal, which will ultimately connect to the proposed offshore wind farms and proposed marinus Link to Tasmania, is nearby.
According to Energy Australia, modern utility-scale batteries use purpose-built containers that can be positioned and screened for minimum visual impact. Lithium technologies have no noticeable vibration, greenhouse emissions and emit minimal sound.
A similar battery system is already installed at the old Hazelwood power station site.
In September 2021, Energy Australia called for expressions of interest for businesses that can engineer, procure and build the new battery storage facility.
Preferred criteria were to maximise local participation in the Latrobe Valley and broader Gippsland region. The selected contractor is expected to be announced in the first quarter of next year.
According to Energy Australia, the battery has several advantages:
-Stored energy can step in on cloudy or windless days when renewables are not available. When demand for power rises, utility-scale batteries can discharge their stored power, helping to keep the lights on;
-It stores electricity at times when lots of renewable energy is being produced, thus supplying dispatchable power to the energy system, and;
-The quick release of stored energy during periods of high demand helps maintain the energy supply and keeps costs down.
Energy Australia is still seeking feedback on the battery proposal.
Email community.wooreen@energyaustralia.com.au to submit feedback.
