The first units of batteries which will eventually become Western Australia’s biggest battery have been installed on the Kwinana site.
Synergy is to operate the 100-to-200 megawatt-hour battery, which will have the capacity to power 160,000 homes for up to two hours.
Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston said the big battery would absorb excess energy from rooftop solar when the sun was shining, and demand was low — then discharge when it was most needed, during the late afternoon and evening peak.
He said the installation of more than 600 battery units would take approximately eight weeks.
“The project will provide valuable learnings towards other large-scale battery storage projects earmarked for the next five years,” Mr Johnston said.
“Increasing energy storage over the next decade will be crucial to addressing system security risks, such as high levels of rooftop solar generation, and ensuring reliable power supply to Western Australia’s main electricity grid.”
He said the lithium-ion iron phosphate battery would be the size of one-and-a-half soccer fields, and would be connected to the Western Power network.
“Synergy is also implementing a battery management system, to optimise its performance and longevity,” the Minister said.
Premier, Mark McGowan said the Government was committed to further improving the stability of the power system through the battery.
“The big battery forms part of our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, and will support the transition of WA’s electricity grid to higher levels of renewables and storage,” Mr McGowan said.
