Aussie Big Battery Obsession
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:11 am
What is it with Aus, and these batts, they keep setting new records. Maybe the combination of reliable and predictable solar, plus good onshore wind has shown them just how much gas they can displace at times. Plus they are closing coal power stations even faster than planned. Maybe a bit late to the party, but there's no stopping them now.
Acen wins approval to build Australia’s biggest battery
Acen wins approval to build Australia’s biggest battery
The New England region of New South Wales is to host Australia’s biggest battery yet, after renewables developer Acen Australia won approval to boost the size of its New England solar battery to a massive 1.4GW (1,400 MW) and 2.8 GWh, or two hours of storage.
The battery, which is being built alongside Acen’s huge 720MW New England solar farm, was originally approved as a 200MW, two-hour facility, but this week got the all-clear from the state government to be super-sized.
If built to that capacity it will surpass the 850 MW/1680 MWh Waratah Super battery and the newly announced 500 MW/2000 MWh Collie battery in Western Australia.
Origin Energy’s planned Eraring battery is sized at 700 MW and 2800 MWh (or four hours storage), although the first stage is set to be smaller at 460 MW and 920 MWh.
“An application to modify the development consent for the project has now been approved by the Department of Planning and Environment, which includes an increase to its battery energy storage capacity of 1,400MW/2hr, or 2,800 megawatt hours,” a company statement says.