Big battery coming to Vic coal country
A 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) coming to the heart of Victorian coal country is the latest asset to receive development approval for Vic-based renewable energy retailer Flow Power.
BESS facilities can help stabilise the grid during frequency disruptions, and help reduce the number of blackouts and the need for load shedding in instances of supply imbalance.
The Bennetts Creek BESS will be located beside the existing Morwell Terminal Station on Monash Way, in the La Trobe Valley in Victoria’s south-east. It will play a pivotal role in providing renewable energy ‘firming’ for Flow Power’s extensive solar and wind portfolio in Victoria. To date, Flow Power has developed and constructed or contracted with over 2 GW of renewable energy projects across the National Electricity Market.
“As one of the few Australian energy retailers with a completely renewable generation portfolio, the Bennetts Creek battery project marks a significant milestone for Flow Power,” said Flow Power COO Byron Serjeantson.
“This project will enable us to provide battery-firmed renewables to Victorian energy users through market-leading products capable of linking supply to 100% renewable energy in real time.”
Serjeantson said that in addition to supporting the local grid, the Bennetts Creek project was working with local stakeholders through a community benefit scheme, industry engagement and local job creation.
The company has committed to a range of community benefits across its existing project portfolio, including environmental initiatives, Indigenous STEM program funding and sport programs.
Flow Power said that the physical site, located in an underutilised industrial area, will provide cutting-edge energy opportunities to the community surrounding the old Morwell Power Station.
“Flow Power has consulted extensively with the local community and stakeholders over this project. We would like to thank everyone for their engagement and support to get to this point and look forward to working together to continue to create our renewable energy future,” Serjeantson said.
The project is aiming for a financial close in 2024 and commencement of commercial operations in late 2025. A more detailed project overview can be found on the Flow Power website.
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