WA trials long-duration storage for remote communities

The WA Government has begun a long-duration storage trial in Kununurra, with the ultimate aim of providing a reliable source of power to regional and remote communities in the Kimberley.

Battery storage already plays a significant role in WA’s energy mix, with large-scale batteries in Kwinana and Collie absorbing excess rooftop solar power during the day and redistributing it at night when demand for energy is greater.

The Kununurra pilot will use a vanadium flow battery with a 78 kW capacity and 220 kWh of storage. This technology particularly suits Kimberley conditions, where energy storage must be temperature resilient and capable of delivering power over a long period of time.

“I am excited about the pilot of the long-duration battery in Kununurra as it’s a major step towards providing clean, reliable energy for regional and remote communities, tailored to withstand our unique climate,” said Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna.

“It is important to help secure affordable and resilient power for our communities in the Kimberley and beyond.”

The trial will also give WA regional energy provider Horizon Power the opportunity to test how to integrate long-duration energy storage into its network, microgrids and other off-grid power systems.

Energy Minister Reece Whitby said the government’s continued investment in battery storage meant households throughout WA could continue to reap the benefits of rooftop solar.

“This pilot won’t just mean there is more clean, reliable and affordable power for regional WA — it means Horizon Power can better understand how batteries can support microgrids and other off-grid power systems throughout the state,” he said.

VSUN Energy, a subsidiary of Australian Vanadium, supplied the vanadium flow battery, and will collaborate with Horizon Power on system support testing over the next 12 months.

Image credit: iStock.com/Matthew Skubis