Even Bigger Battery For South Australia

Image: michaljamro

Tesla’s Big Battery in South Australia could soon lose its crown as Australia’s largest single-site battery installation to another project announced today for the state.

SA Labor says SIMEC ZEN Energy will construct a 120MW/140MWh battery storage facility Port Augusta. The Tesla Big Battery (formally known as Hornsdale Power Reserve) is 100MW/129MWh.

The project will be built with the assistance of a $10 million loan from the State Labor Government’s Renewable Technology Fund and will support a 200MW solar farm being built at the Whyalla Steelworks, plus contribute to grid stability in the state.

“These companies are choosing to invest here because of the world-class renewable resources we have and because our energy plan is sending a clear signal to the market that renewable energy investment is welcome in South Australia,” stated Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

SA Labor says the project will be the “most powerful battery in the world”, but that remains to be seen. There are a few big battery projects in the pipeline around the world that could eclipse it, so it will depend on when the facility is completed and operational.

Construction of the facility will commence this year and create 100 jobs during that phase, with  five ongoing positions post-construction.

“Today’s announcement is another example of how South Australia, under Labor, is leading the world in renewable energy,” said SA Premier Jay Weatherill.

It was one year ago yesterday that Premier Weatherill told Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg  during a somewhat awkward press conference what he thought of the Federal Government bagging South Australia’s renewable energy efforts. Here’s a re-run of that incident.

There’s been a slew of announcements in recent weeks on government supported/backed energy projects and initiatives in South Australia, including:

• Germany’s sonnen to manufacture batteries in Adelaide.
• SA Labor committing Renewable Energy Target of 75 per cent by 2025 and an energy storage target  of “25%” by 2025 (750MW).
• Interest free solar + battery system loans
• The Highbury pumped hydro energy storage project.
• The new state-owned power plant at Bolivar.
• A 250MW/650MWh virtual power plant.
• The South Australian Produce Market microgrid.
• Spencer Gulf pumped hydro energy storage projects.
• A 15MW hydrogen electrolyser power plant to be constructed near Port Lincoln.
• Funding for local company ecoJet to further develop a micro gas turbine that burns hydrogen gas.

Of course, some of the above are contingent on Labor being returned to power this weekend; so while on the topic of the election, check out Ronald’s recent post on how the parties stack up on energy policy.

Energy is certainly a hot-button issue in the state at the moment. If you’re currently debating with family, friends, neighbours or colleagues about the high cost of electricity in South Australia and who/what is to blame; this post may help clarify things.