Energy Storage

Fluence says that Australian governments, regulators and grid operators are ‘learning-by-doing’ in their application of large-scale battery storage. The technology provider on the new 30 MW/30 MWh utility-scale battery at Ballarat indicates that the approach could deliver significant savings when compared with grid upgrades that could be considered “not optimal” as battery technology rapidly improves.

After the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provided an extra $25 million to match the Victorian government’s funding offer, the state of Victoria is now in line for two large-scale, grid-connected batteries, one of which will be coupled with an existing solar farm.

Varta Storage will hold its official launch into the Australian marketplace at an event tonight in Melbourne. As it joins an increasingly crowded marketplace, it expects that the installer will hold the key to sales in Australian homes.

Carnegie Clean Energy has been awarded a $471,000 grant to develop a solar and battery storage solution for the supply of offshore oil and gas platforms. The grant has been provided National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), a body that aims to enhance the competitiveness of Australia’s non-renewable energy sector.

Annual solar installations grew almost 20% year over year in 2017, and the solar industry is also edging within 100 gigawatts, a milestone the industry will reach this year, according to IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

Market analysts IHS Markit believes Australia installed some 7,000 – 8,000 residential storage systems in 2017. “Really strong growth” is expected this year as the economics continue to improve.

WA grid operator Western Power has launched a tender to provide stand-alone power systems in up to 60 locations. Building on a trial program, the systems will include solar and battery storage supported with backup diesel generators.

Home builder Mirvac is partnering with the CEFC to provide rooftop PV and battery storage systems for more than 300 new family homes. The renewable energy systems will include 5.1 kW rooftop systems and 10 kWh batteries.

Panel discussion at Energy Storage Europe tackled the issue of whether the best way for keeping the lights on as economies around the world grow is to extend the grid network or add energy storage, and found that the best solution lies somewhere in between.

German energy storage producer Varta Storage has entered the Australian market. It is introducing the pulse 3 and pulse 6 models, sized at 3.3 kWh and 6.5 kWh.