New project to connect Aust batteries to Tas VPP

Thanks to a collaboration between the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Hydro Tasmania’s energy retailer, Momentum Energy, energy storage systems are due to be installed at a range of locations and institutions across Australia. These include community and professional sporting clubs, a major university, retirement living, retail facilities and small-scale agricultural solar farms.

Officially launched by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, the project begins with the Brisbane Lions Football Club, which will receive a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 1400 kWh to help power its home ground, Brighton Homes Arena, and the Springfield community. The BESS is being developed by renewable energy company Energy Decarb.

The wider project will help 11 participants, including the Brisbane Lions, reduce their electricity costs and unlock another income stream by connecting to the Hydro Tasmania Virtual Power Plant (VPP) — allowing participants to store excess solar PV or grid energy and sell it to the National Electricity Market when needed.

A virtual power plant is a network of energy assets grouped together to pool their power capability and respond to grid demand. It includes energy-producing and -storing assets that can export into the grid when needed, like solar PV panels and batteries, as well as energy-consuming assets that can be turned up or down in response to market demands.

“The unique opportunity for this project is to demonstrate the value of connecting batteries to the Hydro Tasmania Virtual Power Plant, or VPP,” said Momentum Energy Managing Director Lisa Chiba.

“We’re excited to showcase how a VPP can help drive additional revenue from these batteries to support our project participants like the Brisbane Lions. A VPP can help make a more compelling case for investment in batteries.”

Chiba explained that VPPs can also play a key role in stabilising the electricity grid as it transitions to having more renewable energy sources, including intermittent power sources like solar and wind.

“This is because VPPs can quickly send power to the grid when it’s needed or even soak it up or store it when there’s too much available. And there are financial incentives for organisations that can provide this type of service to the electricity grid,” she said.

Batteries will soon be installed at Collingwood Football Club, Cricket Victoria, Living Choice retirement villages at Flagstaff Hill and Fullarton, Living Choice Lifestyle Village at Mount Barker, Aston Hills Shopping Centre and Athelstone Shopping Centre.

The University of Wollongong, Tweed Heads Bowls Club, and solar farms in the Riverland in South Australia will also receive batteries in the coming months as part of the project.

Yvonne Macleod, CEO of Energy Decarb, said the batteries at the Brisbane Lions Football Club are expected to soak up approximately 520 MWh of excess solar power from the local electricity network per year, to supply that stored solar back to the network during high-demand periods in the evening.

“The capacity of the first stage of this battery project could meet the peak demand of approximately 170 average households in South East Queensland each day,” she said.

“When the Brisbane Lions are playing televised events at Brighton Homes Arena, the battery will be discharging to reduce the peak demand at the site by up to 50%. This will reduce the pressure and demand on the electricity network and the need for additional investment in the electricity grid over time.”

In recognition of the importance of VPPs to the clean energy transition, Hydro Tasmania received funding from ARENA as part of the Community Battery Round 1 under ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program. Momentum Energy is coordinating the project on behalf of Hydro Tasmania.

Image credit: iStock.com/gobyg