The ACT’s first grid-scale battery has been switched on, representing a significant milestone in Canberra’s pathway to electrification.
Located in Beard, the battery has enough storage to power approximately 3,000 homes for two hours and is now fully operational as part of the National Electricity Market. The battery is developed and owned by Global Power Generation (GPG), a subsidiary of Spanish energy giant, Naturgy.
GPG was awarded an ACT Government contract to supply the ACT with renewable electricity in Round 5 of the ACT Government’s renewable electricity reverse auctions in 2019, supporting the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity supply.
“The ACT has long been committed to ambitious renewable energy policies which means that we now have advanced industry knowledge and capabilities. This sets Canberra up as a great place to invest in renewable energy technology,” said Chief Minister and Minister for Climate Action, Andrew Barr.
“Canberra’s renewable energy and clean-tech industries have attracted over $2 billion dollars of investment in large-scale wind and solar infrastructure across Australia, and more than $500 million dollars of investment directly into the Canberra region.
“This battery is a significant first for the city, given energy storage and battery technology are a critical component of our zero emissions future. We have even more battery storage on the horizon for the ACT, with a further 250 MW of grid-scale and neighbourhood batteries to be installed in the coming years as part of our Big Canberra Battery Project.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury said the ACT continues to be a leader in Australia and the world in its response to climate change and its renewable energy ambition.
“From the petrol in our cars to the gas cooktops, hot-water systems and heating in our homes, fossil fuels make up a significant proportion of the energy mix in the ACT. As we transition away from fossil fuels, demand for electricity is going to increase.”
“We are committed to investing in sustainable energy infrastructure of the future to maintain a stable and reliable energy grid and continue to deliver some of the lowest electricity prices in the country.
“Energy storage and battery technology is a critical component of the city’s zero-emissions future as we move towards electrification, so that the ACT continues to benefit from a secure, reliable and affordable energy network.
“Energy storage will play an important role in the reliability of Territory’s electricity supply by providing power to help avoid blackouts during periods of high demand and help to mitigate situations when large, interstate fossil-fuel generators fail in heatwave conditions, reducing the amount of electricity available throughout the eastern states,” Minister Rattenbury said.
GPG Chief Business Development Officer, Pedro Serrano said the launch of the facility represented an important step in strengthening the company’s contribution to the energy transition.
“Today is a significant milestone, both for ACT and for GPG, and we would like to thank the ACT Government for trusting us and for supporting the development of this project,” he said.
“Looking forward, we are excited about the future of renewable energy in Australia. Our commitment to this country is firm and this is reflected in our Strategic Plan. By 2025, we are planning 2.2 GW of installed power from renewable technologies (wind, solar photovoltaic and energy storage) and an investment of approximately 2,000 million euros.”
