battery energy storage system

Australian commercial solar outfit CleanPeak Energy has expanded its utility-scale PV portfolio with the acquisition of three operating solar farms with a combined capacity of 14.3 MW in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

With the clean energy transition driving a global increase in demand for critical minerals, the Queensland government has declared Townsville will be home to Australia’s first state-owned processing facility for critical minerals like vanadium.

New South Wales network operator Ausgrid has switched on the second community battery rolled out under an Australian government national funding program that has sparked an “overwhelming” response with more than $3.5 billion (USD 2.28 billion) of projects seeking funding.

The South Australian government is looking to fast-track the development of grid-scale battery energy storage systems across the state, launching a process that promises to provide successful projects with exemptions that could “significantly” improve project timelines.

Australian battery and renewable energy developer Akaysha Energy said construction of its 150 MW/300 MWh Ulinda Park big battery planned for Queensland’s Western Downs region will commence in the coming weeks with the company having now reached a final investment decision on the project.

Asset management company Sosteneo Infrastructure Partners has made its first foray into the Australian renewable energy market, purchasing the 185 MW/370 MWh Koorangie Energy Storage System in northern Victoria from Edify Energy.

Researchers at Victoria’s Monash University have developed a new lithium-sulphur battery design they claim requires less lithium, has more energy per unit volume, lasts longer and can be produced for half the price of the dominant lithium-ion technology.

The company supplying the technology for what has been branded Australia’s “biggest battery” has cautioned that manufacturers must ramp up their focus on hardware, increase investment in advanced software and improve testing practices to minimise the risk of lithium-ion batteries catching fire.

The largest battery energy storage system yet built in New South Wales is now fully operational with developer Edify Energy announcing that the 150 MW/300 MWh Riverina and Darlington Point Energy Storage System is importing and exporting electricity at its full nameplate capacity.

EnergyAustralia’s plans to install a 500 MW/2,000 MWh big battery energy storage system adjacent to its Mt Piper coal-fired power station in New South Wales are gathering momentum with the Hong Kong-owned generator and retailer receiving approval to conduct site investigation works.