The first of two large-scale batteries that will support Victoria’s energy grid has been unveiled in Ballarat, signalling the next stage of Victoria’s renewable energy boom.
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio opened the Ballarat Energy Storage System (BESS) yesterday morning at the Ballarat Terminal Station in Warrenheip.
Designed and operated by Spotless Sustainability Services, the BESS is a state of the art lithium-ion large-scale battery that will deliver a 30-megawatt/30-megawatt hour supply and is capable of powering more than 20,000 homes for an hour of critical peak demand before being recharged.
The BESS will be able to respond to changing grid needs within milliseconds and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support critical peak demand.
The BESS is one of two large-scale batteries that are part of the Victorian Government’s Energy Storage Initiative. The other large-scale battery in the initiative is the Tesla 25 megawatt/50 mega-watt hour battery which is integrated with the Gannawarra Solar Farm, south-west of Kerang.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said BESS is part of Victoria’s plan to transition to a more affordable, reliable and clean energy system.
“We’re modernising our electricity grid, strengthening our energy security and delivering real action on climate change.”
Dean Rizzetti, Public Policy and Advocacy Manager at Environment Victoria said large-scale energy storage is a vital step to set the state on the path to 100 per cent clean, efficient, low-cost energy.
“Batteries and renewable energy go hand-in-hand. This is the next logical step in the process of cleaning up Victoria’s power grid,” he said.
More information on the project can be found here.