Tour Tesla's 'Big Battery' site

The Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition 2018, to be held from 23–24 May in Adelaide, is providing attendees the opportunity to see first-hand one of three commercial and utility energy storage projects that are transforming South Australia’s energy sector.

Attendees will be able to tour the Hornsdale Wind Farm/Power Reserve which houses Tesla’s ‘Big Battery’ — the largest lithium battery installation in the world. Tours will also go to the Adelaide HS and Tonsley Innovation Precinct, the site of one of SIMEC ZEN Energy’s load shifting commercial battery installations, and Redflow and Highbury Pumped Hydro Energy Storage installation.

The site tours will take place on 22 May and include transportation, a Q&A with the site owners and technology providers, as well as the chance to explore these significant installations and learn about their impact in the state.

The Tesla Big Battery

The Tesla battery is located at Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm. The full-day tour will be led by Neoen and Tesla representatives who will provide an in-depth insight into the wind farm and battery installation.

In addition to an up-close tour of the battery installation, the conference will also feature a presentation by Tesla Director Mark Twidell, detailing how South Australia is powering forward with large-scale energy storage. Tesla will also be exhibiting at the free exhibition.

Adelaide HS and Tonsley Innovation Precinct 

Adelaide High School is the site of a load-shifting commercial battery installation, paired with a solar array, by SIMEC ZEN Energy. This half-day tour gives access to the high school’s installation, as well as the Tonsley Innovation Precinct, an innovative precinct developed to foster innovation in a low-carbon setting, based in the old Mitsubishi Main Assembly Building.

The majority shareholder of SIMEC ZEN Energy and Chairman of GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta, will deliver the keynote presentation and talk about his recent investments in Australia’s energy industry that are beginning to rival Elon Musk.

Redflow and Highbury Pumped Hydro Energy Storage

The third site tour will provide attendees the opportunity to spend half a day exploring Redflow’s Adelaide office and ‘battery lab’, where flow batteries go through rigorous testing. Redflow is a leading supplier of zinc–bromine flow batteries which power much of its Adelaide offices through solar and a large-scale energy storage system. Participants will also tour the recently announced Highbury Pumped Hydro installation, a former quarry that showcases the potential of pumped hydro energy storage.

Simon Hackett, a non-executive director and technology evangelist at Redflow Limited, will deliver the conference’s day two plenary session. Redflow will also showcase its new technologies at the free exhibition.

These exclusive site tours are only accessible with a full conference pass. Early bird conference prices end 10 April, so get in quick to secure your spot. Use the promo code: SA10 for early bird rates. Register at www.australianenergystorage.com.au/register.

Image caption: Hornsdale Power Reserve.