Image: Edify Energy
Edify Energy, Australia's leading renewable energy company, announced the successful completion of funding for the construction and operation of the country's largest approved battery generating electricity. The 150MW/300MWh battery storage system will be powered by Tesla Megapacks.
The 150MW/300 MWh battery storage system, located in southwest New South Wales, consists of three separate partitions:
• 60MW/120MWh Riverina Energy Storage System 1 (RESS 1);
• 65MW/130MW Riverina Energy Storage System 2 (RESS 2); and
• 25MW/50MWh Darlington Point Energy Storage System (DPESS).
Edify Energy will launch the largest utility scale grid forming plants in the National Electricity Market (NEM), providing one of the most advanced energy storage systems in the NEM. It will help ensure the future stability of renewable energy in southwest New South Wales, as well as can power 40,000 homes for two hours.
These energy storage systems will use Tesla Megapacks, which are the most advanced battery systems in the electricity market. They will be equipped with grid-forming inverters that operate in a “virtual synchronous generator” mode. This will allow the storage system to operate in the same way as a conventional generator and provide critical system reliability services to facilitate the connection of future green power plants in the region.
Edify Chief Executive John Cole said:
“We have long been believers of harnessing the full capability of power electronics and preparing for a 100% renewables-based grid. It is exciting for Edify to be delivering another ‘first in market’ facility. In this instance, we’re using the combination of the dispatchable properties of batteries with a new vintage of grid forming inverter control systems to create a generator that can provide power system support services, which have traditionally been provided by thermal synchronous generators.”
Stephen Panizza, co-founder and head of renewable energy at Federation said:
“Energy storage will be a cornerstone of a decarbonized electricity grid. Federation is delighted to partner with Edify to deliver the state-of-the-art Riverina energy storage systems.”
Anthony Miller, Chief Executive, Westpac Institutional Bank, said:
“Clean energy technologies, such as utility scale batteries, have a critical role in ensuring grid stability as Australia transitions to greater renewable energy and a low carbon energy future. Edify and Federation Asset Management’s strong track record with these projects, and the long-term offtake agreements Edify negotiated, make this an attractive and credible financing opportunity and Westpac is pleased to be a part of it.”
This best-in-class battery is to be built on the traditional land of the proud Wiradjuri people, the largest Aboriginal Nation in New South Wales. Edify acknowledges the Wiradjuri people as the traditional custodians of this land and their deep understanding of how to live in harmony with the environment. Construction of the project will commence in the near future with Tesla Motors Australia under contract to deliver the facility. It is due to be completed in stages during the first half of 2023.
© 2022, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.
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Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter
About the Author
Eva Fox
Eva Fox joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover breaking news as an automotive journalist. The main topics that she covers are clean energy and electric vehicles. As a journalist, Eva is specialized in Tesla and topics related to the work and development of the company.
