Featured image: Neoen

French renewable energy developer Neoen has won a contract to build one of the largest lithium-ion batteries in the world. The facility will be built near the regional city of Geelong using Tesla Megapacks.

The big battery will have a power capacity of 300MW and a storage capacity of 450MWh, making it more than double the size of the Hornsdale battery (150/194MWh), which was recently expanded to add new synthetic inertia and other key network services to South Australia, reports The Guardian.

The Geelong battery will be installed near Moorabool Terminal Station and will be ready by the end of 2021, said the Victorian energy and climate change minister, Lily D'Ambrosio. It is expected to have enough energy to run about 500,000 homes for half an hour.

“By securing one of the biggest batteries in the world Victoria is taking a decisive step away from coal-fired power and embracing new technologies that will unlock more renewable energy than ever before,” she said.

Neoen won the right to build the battery through a tender by the Australian energy market operator. Once again, they will partner with Tesla to deliver the highest quality service. Its contract requires a battery to fill the gap in the event of an unexpected network outage. It will also provide the network services needed to support variable renewable energy sources. The tender process was initiated by the Victoria government.

Thrilled to announce that our Victorian Big Battery has won 250 MW contract with @VicGovAu & @AEMO_Media !👏
Incredibly proud to be working with @Tesla & network partner @AusNetServices on this world-leading project.
Join us for webinar today at 4pm https://t.co/yipr0IWqaD pic.twitter.com/KCKsSUJ6Lu

— Neoen Australia (@NEOEN_AU) November 5, 2020

“This big battery gets us halfway to the storage target we need to prepare for the closure of Yallourn [coal] power station,” said the group’s chief executive, Jonathan La Nauze.

 

The new Victoria battery will be built with Tesla Megapacks with a capacity of 3MWh, which can deliver a major peaking plant four times quicker than traditional fossil fuel projects.

The cost of the project has not been disclosed, but Neoen will be paid a "service charge" of $12.5 million per year for a 250 MW and 125 MW component under a 10-year contract with the Australian energy market operator.

© 2020, Eva Fox. All rights reserved.

_____________________________

We appreciate your readership! Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Article edited by @SmokeyShorts, you can follow him on Twitter

Follow @EvaFoxU