ACT Government Approves Stream 1 of the Big Canberra Batteries

canberra batteries

ACT residents will soon have access to a battery test centre in Williamsdale. It will work batteries hard in hot daytime and cold overnight temperatures to see how they perform over time.

The ACT government has approved the development application for Stream one of their Big Canberra Battery project in Williamsdale. Construction will begin this year, partnered with Eku Energy.

How they work

The ACT government’s Big Canberra Battery has moved a step closer to being built, with the ACT and energy provider Evoenergy announcing the granting of development approval for the 250-megawatt project at Williamsdale. The battery will be able to store up to 40 megawatt-hours of electricity and discharge it back into the grid, helping the ACT achieve its goal of 100 percent renewable energy use and improving the reliability of Australia’s national grid.

The batteries will be tested at accelerated rates, which means they’ll be cycled three times a day rather than the normal two. This enables the Test Centre to simulate the high and low temperatures that real-world batteries would experience, increasing the chance of uncovering problems like stealth issues, which can occur in all battery systems. The accelerated testing also allows the Canberra Battery Test Centre to see how the batteries perform over multiple years, giving a true picture of how well they’ll work.

Why they’re important

The ACT government has taken an important step towards its energy future by approving the development application for Stream 1 of the Big Canberra Battery in Williamsdale. This grid connected battery will cost between $300 and $400 million and store enough renewable energy to power one-third of Canberra for two hours during peak demand periods. It will be built by Eku Energy, a Macquarie Group offshoot that will design, build and operate the battery under a revenue sharing deal with the ACT government.

This 250MW battery will help the ACT grid to manage fluctuations in voltage and frequency, remove the need to upgrade network infrastructure, and provide power during heatwaves. It will also enable electric vehicles to be charged at evening peak times. Further, a series of smaller community batteries at schools and council sites is planned for the suburbs of Fyshwick, Gungahlin, Chifley, Greenway, Kambah, and Stromlo. Procurement processes for these will open in August.

Cost

The Big Canberra Battery aims to future proof the ACT’s electricity supply by reducing load on our electricity network. The large-scale grid connected batteries will store energy when demand is low and distribute it when it’s needed – usually in the early evenings when our solar generation stops, or during peak energy usage periods.

The project has been underwritten by the ACT government to support its commercial success. The government will receive quarterly payments over 15 years, as well as a share of profits from the battery’s merchant operations in the National Electricity Market.

The government is also supporting neighbourhood-scale batteries across Casey, Dickson and Fadden. These ‘behind the meter’ systems allow households to store extra solar energy they produce during the day and use it at night when prices are highest. If you’re interested in a battery system for your home, speak with a SolarHub consultant about finance options that can make it more affordable.

Installation

A giant battery project that will help the ACT get off gas and reach its net zero target has won development approval. The 250MW/500MWh Williamsdale battery from Eku Energy – an offshoot of Macquarie’s Green Investment Group global specialist energy storage team – can back up the electricity grid in just a few milliseconds and should start construction later this year.

The batteries will store power from rooftop solar panels and provide back up at peak demand times. They will also allow the ACT to reduce its mains grid consumption and ease pressure on local networks.

Moreover, the batteries can be used to power electric vehicles and help homeowners reduce their energy bills. They can also be used to capture and sell excess energy to the grid for extra income. This is a great opportunity to get behind Canberra’s carbon-neutral future! To learn more about the installation process, contact us today. We can answer your questions and provide a free quote.



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