Publicly owned energy company Stanwell is partnering with Tesla and Yurika to build the giant 300MW/1200MWh system capable of supplying energy into the grid for up to four hours.

Related article: Queensland Government doubles capacity of Stanwell battery

The mega battery project will include 324 lithium-ion Tesla Megapack 2XL units which will be transported on trucks to site and craned into place.

The project was recently supercharged with a $448.2 million funding boost from the Queensland Government’s Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Job Fund, with the Premier and Energy Minister announcing in May it’s capacity would be doubled.

Work has also reached the halfway mark on Stanwell’s first dispatchable energy (storage) project, the $514 million Tarong mega battery project, part of what will be the Tarong Clean Energy Hub.

Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said, “Dispatchable energy assets like our Stanwell and Tarong big battery projects are critical as we transform our energy system.

“The big batteries will play a crucial role in the energy transformation by stabilising energy supply from clean renewable sources, meaning they’ll be able to be charged by sources like wind and solar and pumped back into the grid during periods of high demand.

Related article: CS Energy switches on Chinchilla Battery in Queensland

“This will ensure affordable and reliable electricity for our commercial and industrial customers in Queensland and the Eastern Seaboard.

“They are a key piece of our commitment to achieving 5GW of energy storage by 2035 and highlights Stanwell’s vision for a sustainable and innovative energy future.”

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CS Energy worked with Tesla and Downer to deliver the Chinchilla Battery, which is the first operational project in the Kogan Clean Energy Hub.

Related article: Forensic report blames CS Energy for Callide C explosion

The project has undergone a comprehensive commissioning program to test the battery under a range of operating conditions, ensuring it operates safely and reliably.

“Getting the Chinchilla Battery ready for commercial operation has taken a large effort from many people and teams across our entire business, from the team at site who will operate and maintain the asset to our traders in Brisbane who will dispatch its output into the grid,” CS Energy CEO Darren Busine said.

“This project, along with our other projects planned for the Kogan Clean Energy Hub, shows that CS Energy is here for the long term in the Western Downs community.”

Related article: Construction begins on Akaysha’s Brendale Battery

The Chinchilla Battery comprises 80 Tesla Megapack 2 systems. It uses lithium iron phosphate (also known as lithium ferro phosphate [LFP], or LiFePO4) batteries, which are the safest lithium batteries currently available.

Construction contractor Downer spent more than $3 million on suppliers and subcontractors in the Chinchilla and Dalby region during the construction phase.

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Commencing commercial operation in 2026, the Brendale BESS is expected to reduce electricity costs and enhance grid stability in line with the Queensland Government’s renewable energy targets.

Related article: Akaysha secures first battery portfolio financing in Australia

Located on UnityWater’s 3.7-acre site next to the South Pine substation, the central node of Queensland’s electricity grid, the Brendale BESS will feature Tesla Megapack technology while the balance of plant will be delivered by Consolidated Power Projects Australia (CPP).

As one of Queensland’s largest batteries, the Brendale BESS can store enough energy to power up to 300,000 homes during a blackout, adding significant storage capacity to Queensland’s electricity network.

The project will provide energy arbitrage and frequency control ancillary services to support the NEM and facilitate the integration of solar and wind projects by leveraging existing transmission infrastructure in the region.

Akaysha Energy managing director and chief commercial officer Paul Curnow said, “The Brendale BESS is an important element of Akaysha Energy’s portfolio across not only Queensland but the NEM more broadly.

Related article: Akaysha Energy: Powering Australia’s renewables transition

“The Brendale BESS is a crucial step in our mission to rapidly deploy large-scale BESS, enhancing grid stability and energy security while driving the global shift to sustainable energy.

“The Brendale BESS is one of four projects under development in the state and it’s clear that the Queensland energy sector is serious about the transition.”

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The $450 million BESS at Lower Wonga has a battery energy storage capacity of up to 200MW and a discharge capacity of up to 800MWh, which is enough power to supply electricity for up to 53,000 homes for four hours.

Related article: Origin approves second stage of Eraring Battery

The Lower Wonga BESS will allow for more solar and wind energy to be integrated into the grid, helping to reduce grid volatility, lower electricity prices and the need for expensive new power stations.

Equis Australia investment director Roby Camagong said, “The BESS would be connected to Queensland’s electricity grid via a transmission line that connects to the 275kV Woolooga Substation.

“Making the transition from fossil fuels to ‘baseload’ renewables, the ability to store and dispatch energy will play a key support role to provide rapid-response services to grid contingency events such as outages or heat waves.

“Grid-scale battery storage fills this key short-term role,” Camagong said.

Work on the battery is expected to begin later this year, with the project scheduled to be operational by 2026.

Related article: FRV Australia reaches financial close on Terang Battery

Equis is developing a pipeline of high-quality battery storage and wind generation projects in Queensland, including the recently announced Jackson North Wind Farm in Woleebee, Queensland.

In November 2023, Equis and the Victorian Government’s SEC financially closed and commenced construction of Phase 1 of the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub. Once complete, MREH will provide 1.6GWh of energy storage, enough to power up to 200,000 homes during peak periods.

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Related article: FRV Australia secures $1.2B refinancing of solar portfolio

The 100MW/200MWh Terang BESS is financed under FRV Australia’s recent AUD$1.2 billion portfolio refinancing facility.

The refinancing process included 11 financial institutions, which are now also supporting the funding of Terang: ING Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank, Société Générale, Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, Mizuho Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, United Overseas Bank, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, China Construction Bank, and Agricultural Bank of China.

The project will also receive AUD$7 million in funding to support the installation of new grid forming inverters, awarded under round two of the Victoria Government’s Energy Innovation Fund (EIF) to help continue the Victorian Government’s drive to a renewable energy target of 50% by 2030.

Located 2km north-east of Terang’s centre and approximately 40km north of Warrnambool, the BESS will  connect to the NEM and be built on the traditional land of the Eastern Maar people.

Related article: FRV’s first hybrid solar-plus-storage project goes live

FRV Australia has appointed Canadian Solar‘s e-STORAGE for the construction and signed a connection agreement with AusNet in 2024.

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Related article: AVESS rebrands, reveals five-hour vanadium flow battery

Unicoh ESS Co Ltd will invest AUD$10.2 million to build a 500-tonne vanadium electrolyte sulfate manufacturing plant on a 24,235sqm site in South Korea’s Yeongil Port Industrial Complex Foreign Investment Zone.

The manufacturing plant is expected to create more than 60 direct jobs in Pohang City. The company is expected to invest AUD$4 million in Unicoh ESS Co Ltd to provide general working capital while strengthening its positioning in the global VFB market.

AVESS is now expected to pursue vanadium offtake opportunities with local vanadium developers to enhance Australia’s vanadium value chain.

AVESS Energy managing director Young Yu said, “The creation of Unicoh ESS and the signing of this vanadium electrolyte manufacturing MoU strengthens AVESS’ capabilities and positioning in the global vanadium electrolyte market, as we edge closer towards Australian-made vanadium batteries.

“Unicoh ESS comes at an exciting time as we synergise decades of complementary capabilities and expertise across the electrolyte space, while this MoU is another demonstration of our readiness to locally manufacture commercial-scale VFBs.”

Related article: Vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility opens in WA

The global vanadium electrolyte market size is projected to be worth US$126.3 million (2023) and is expected to reach US$537.8 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 23% between 2023 and 2030.

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The combined energy storage of the stage one and stage two batteries will be over 2GWh, enabling Origin to help keep the grid stable and support more variable renewable energy coming into the system.

Related article: Origin strikes deal with govt to delay Eraring closure

Origin has executed agreements for equipment supply and construction, with works on the second stage scheduled to begin early in the 2025 calendar year. Stage two is anticipated to come online in the first quarter of the 2027 calendar year.

Origin head of energy supply and operations Greg Jarvis said, “We are pleased to have approved Origin’s third investment in a large-scale battery at one of our existing power stations, which reflects our belief that storage will play an important role in the changing grid by helping to firm up variable supply from wind and solar.

“The second stage of the Eraring battery will be over four-hours duration and it will be capable of absorbing excess solar generation during the day to support reliable energy supply when needed, such as through the evening peak.

“Eraring is a strategic site with high-quality connection infrastructure. Confirmation of the second stage of the Eraring battery development is a key next step as we look to transform the site for the future so it can continue to support the energy transition.”

Battery equipment for stage two of the Eraring project will be supplied by Finnish technology group Wärtsilä, with design and construction services to be provided by Enerven Energy Infrastructure.

Related article: Supernode Battery expanded under new Origin offtake deal

Origin has now committed to more than 1.5GW of large-scale batteries across its three owned projects at Eraring and Mortlake, along with tolling agreements for the offtake of the Supernode Battery stage 1 and 2.

Eraring is Australia’s largest power station and supplies up to a quarter of electricity supply in New South Wales. Eraring is scheduled to close in August 2027, as part of an agreement with the NSW Government to support security of supply through the transition.

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Related article: Edify and Sosteneo partner to build Koorangie ESS

The Tesla Megapacks have arrived and been successfully craned into place at the KESS site, with the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP onsite to help celebrate the milestone.

The Koorangie Energy Storage System is located in North West Victoria, near the town of Kerang.

Construction of the 185MW/370MWh KESS facility is on schedule and charging towards energisation and commercial operations in 2025.

KESS will be able to power 350,000 homes for 2 hours. With its grid forming capabilities, it will liberate significant renewable energy capacity in the region supporting Victoria’s and Australia’s renewable energy transition.

KESS has entered into a 15-year offtake agreement with Shell Energy and in parallel provides critical system strength services through a 20 year System Support Agreement with AEMO.

To finance and deliver the $400 million Koorangie Energy Storage System, one of the largest and most advanced energy storage systems on the network, Edify has partnered with Sosteneo, a specialist infrastructure investor.

Related article: Edify gets $48M funding for Townsville Green Hydrogen Hub

Minister D’Ambrosio said, “Koorangie is a cutting-edge facility that will help Victoria hit our energy storage targets and support our transition to renewable energy that will provide stability to our energy grid regional Victoria.”

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Related article: Capacity Investment Scheme supercharged to 32GW

The WEM is separate to the National Electricity Market (NEM) and operates with a unique Reserve Capacity Mechanism (RCM). Tender 2 closely aligns with the RCM process and aims to deliver a pipeline of quality, bankable projects for inclusion in the mechanism.

This tender aims to deliver 500MW of 4-hour equivalent (or 2,000MWh) of clean dispatchable capacity. This will help support our energy system to reach 82% renewables by 2030.

Projects must be located in Western Australia; connect to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS); have a minimum storage duration of 2 hours; and have a minimum registered capacity of 30MW.

Following the successful June completion of the Stage A bids for CIS Tender 1, seeking generation capacity in the NEM, AEMO Services will administer the CIS tender 2 process on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Australian Government will run CIS tenders every 12 months for the WEM and every 6 months for the NEM until 2027.

Through the CIS, the government will seek competitive tender bids for renewable capacity and clean dispatchable capacity projects to deliver an additional 32GW of capacity by 2030 and deliver the Australian Government’s 82% renewable electricity by 2030 target.

Related article: Western Australia gets $3b funding for grid expansion

Project bids will close in mid-August and announcement of successful bids is expected in early 2025. Read the tender guidelines and submit a project bid here.

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The extent to which renewables should dominate Australia’s energy grids is a major issue in science and politics. Solar and wind are clearly now the cheapest form of electricity. But limits to these technologies can undermine the case for a renewables-only electricity mix.

The challenges posed by solar and wind generators are real. They are inherently variable, producing electricity only when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. To ensure reliable energy supplies, grids dominated by renewables need “firming” capacity: back-up technology that can supply electricity on demand.

Some, including the Albanese government, argue gas-fired generators are needed to fill the gap. Others, such as the Coalition, say renewables can’t “keep the lights on” at all and Australia should pursue nuclear energy instead.

But a new way to firm up the world’s electricity grids is fast developing: sodium-ion batteries. This emerging energy storage technology could be a game-changer—enabling our grids to run on 100% renewables.

Related article: Sodium ion batteries could be a game-changer

Sodium-ion batteries: pros and cons

Energy storage collects excess energy generated by renewables, stores it then releases it on demand, to help ensure a reliable supply. Such facilities provide either short or long-term (more than 100 hours) storage.

At present, lithium-ion batteries are the primary storage technology but are best for short-term storage. Sodium-ion batteries are now almost ready to fill the long-term storage gap.
As the name suggests, sodium-ion batteries contain sodium (symbol Na), an element found in salt. The technology involves the movement of sodium ions between positive and negative poles, which creates a charge.

The technology used in sodium-ion batteries is similar to that of lithium-ion batteries. In fact, as others have noted, factories currently producing lithium batteries could easily and cheaply move to sodium batteries.

And sodium is a far more abundant material than lithium, and potentially cheaper to extract.

Some types of lithium mining require a lot of water and energy and have led to local pollution, such as in South America’s alpine lakes. The pollution issues are far fewer, however, in Australian hard-rock lithium.

The recycling and disposal of lithium batteries is challenging—though much easier than recycling carbon from fossil fuels.

In terms of performance, sodium batteries hold their charge for much longer than lithium batteries.

But as with any technology, sodium-ion batteries present challenges. Sodium ions are bigger and heavier than lithium ions. This means the batteries are less energy-dense than their lithium counterparts, and so require more space and material to store the same amount of charge.

This is improving, however. According to one analysis, the energy density of sodium-based batteries in 2022 was equal to that of lower-end lithium-ion batteries a decade earlier.
And ongoing research and development means their energy-density continues to increase.

Getting to market

As with all promising technologies, a key question for sodium-ion batteries is when they might become widely commercialised.

To answer that, we may look to recent analysis based on a method developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It suggests sodium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly competitive on cost – and so may enter the global market as early as 2027.

The analysis suggested sodium-ion batteries would soon match the cost of using gas-fired power as a firming energy source.

Similarly, an assessment by the United States energy department in September last year found sodium-ion batteries are “expected to adopt a significant market share by 2030”.

It said the technology could become a competitive replacement for lead-acid or lithium-iron phosphate batteries in both small-scale vehicle electrification and “behind-the-meter” applications such as backing up home solar panel systems.

The analysis found current and planned manufacturing of sodium-ion batteries was concentrated in China and Europe, and several large battery producers were “projecting large-scale manufacturing facilities in the near future”.

They include Chinese electric motor vehicle company BYD, which has reportedly started constructing a sodium-ion battery facility in Xuzhou.

In Australia, United Kingdom-based battery company Faradion installed small stationary modules in Victoria’s Yarra Valley in 2022.

Related article: Swedes spruik ‘best-in-class’ 160Wh/kg sodium-ion battery

Keeping our options open

A recent plan by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) suggests coal-fired power will be phased out by 2035. But the plan suggests a significant amount of gas will remain in the grid.

The AEMO analysis did not look at the potential for long-duration energy storage to compete with gas. However, the development of technologies such as sodium-ion batteries suggests we should question AEMO’s assumed need for gas in future.

Disruptive innovations grow quickly and exponentially. We need only look to the annual growth rates for existing clean energy technologies such as solar (29%), wind (14%), electric vehicles (54%) and battery storage (52%).

The Climate Change Authority is currently assessing Australia’s potential technology transition and emission pathways as we head towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Within the review’s scope is to examine which technologies may be deployed in each sector to support emissions reductions.

The potential of sodium-ion batteries suggests policies put forward by the authority should not lock in polluting options for the electricity sector, such as gas-fired power. Cleaner alternatives are likely to be commercial in a few years—and the stability of our climate depends on planning for them.

Disclosure statement: Peter Newman received funding from the Australian Government to attend IPCC author meetings over the past 15 years.

Republished from The Conversation under Creative Commons

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Related article: Pacific Green to build grid-scale battery park in Victoria

The Limestone Coast Energy Park assets will consist of a 0.5GW/1.5GWh battery energy storage system developed and constructed in two phases over the next 36 months. Once operational they will significantly strengthen the region’s grid stability.

Construction of the energy parks will commence towards the end of this year, with the first phase expected to be operational in the second half of 2026.

The Limestone Coast Energy Parks mark the first set of assets of an 8.5GWh development pipeline of battery energy parks Pacific Green is rolling out throughout Australia.

Pacific Green Australia CEO and managing director Joel Alexander said, “This is a major milestone for the Limestone Coast Energy Park assets, and we are pleased that the South Australian Government has recognised the rigorous assessment and community consultation work we have undertaken to date.

“We look forward to re-engaging with the local community to maximise the tangible economic benefits of the Limestone Coast Energy Parks and to ensure funding and local contracting opportunities are open to all relevant groups.

Related article: Octopus’ 1GWh Blackstone Battery gets planning tick

“This is a positive and exciting start to an exceptional pipeline of Australian projects to come.”

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The expansion features a 250MW/4hr Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is double the megawatt-hour size of the Stage 1 BESS project recently announced.

Related article: Quinbrook to build $2.5b data centre with 2GWh battery

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners co-founder and managing partner David Scaysbrook said, “Supernode Stage 2 expansion comes right on the heels of our recent announcement of the construction start for Stage 1 and of our long-term offtake partnership with Origin.

“Moreover, with a 4-hour duration now configured for Stage 2, this represents yet another significant milestone for Quinbrook and for Queensland’s energy transition. Origin’s commitment to both Stages 1 and 2 speaks volumes to how strategically located the Supernode site is within the Queensland power system.

“The South Pine switchyard is the central node of the electricity network in Queensland, with an estimated 80% of Queensland’s traded electricity flowing through here every day. It’s hard to imagine a more ideal location for storage in the sunshine state.”

The Supernode site is the last non-flood prone land adjacent to the South Pine central node.​ This proximity helps mitigate marginal loss factor and curtailment risk, offering competitive advantages for Supernode BESS operations.

Related article: Octopus’ 1GWh Blackstone Battery gets planning tick

Origin head of energy supply and operations Greg Jarvis said, “Origin is pleased to be working with Quinbrook having secured the exclusive offtake from Stage 1 and 2 of the Supernode battery.

“The Supernode offtake will be an important addition to our growing storage portfolio, and reflects our belief that storage will play an important role in helping firm variable renewable energy supply and maintaining secure, reliable energy supply for customers.”

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Related article: Octopus snaps up Queensland’s largest proposed battery

The Blackstone storage development is Queensland’s biggest battery storage project. The project is located 30km from Brisbane and has the ability to power around 70,000 homes.

Once constructed, the battery project will compliment Octopus’s other wind and solar assets in Queensland, including the operational Dulacca Wind Farm and the Ardandra Battery and Solar Farm currently in development.

Given the high volumes of solar generation in Queensland, the Blackstone Battery will play a vital role in capturing energy generated during the day and redistributing it in the evening to meet peak demand periods.

Octopus co-managing director renewables Australia Sonia Teitel said, “The planning approval for the Blackstone Battery is a significant step towards building Octopus’s integrated portfolio of multi-technology renewable assets. The Blackstone Battery will play a pivotal role in delivering reliable renewable energy generation in Queensland and supporting the state’s transition towards a renewable future.”

Related article: Octopus Australia to build 1GW wind project in NSW

Octopus Australia continues to collaborate closely with key stakeholders Firm Power and Powerlink towards the next phases of the project.

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The Territory Government’s Power and Water Corporation has secured conditional support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for 16 community batteries, which will be located in various locations on the Darwin-Katherine electricity grid.

Related article: Northern Territory claims highest take-up of solar batteries

Once online, the batteries are expected to have a significant impact on local network constraints and will expand rooftop solar capacity, reduce emissions and keep power prices as affordable as possible.

The $6.1 million Wurrumiyanga Solar Farm project is also a step closer to having battery storage. Testing of the battery which was undertaken at Berrimah is now complete.

This project will provide an additional 1.1MW solar array, together with a 1.75MVA battery energy storage system. The battery has been prepared for transport to Wurrumiyanga, where work will begin to connect the battery to the solar farm in the coming months.

Work on the Remote Power System Strategy, which will deliver an average of 70% renewable energy to 72 remote communities provided with electricity through the Indigenous Essential Services program is continuing.

The Northern Territory Government invested $3.1 million for preparatory works for the rollout of more solar and batteries in remote communities, including detailed technical analysis. The RPSS will reduce the reliance of diesel generators in regional and remote communities.

Minister for Renewables and Energy Kate Worden said, “Investing in battery technology ensures Territorians will have reliable power supply as we move to integrate more renewable energy into our electricity grid.

Related article: Northern Territory to upgrade substation at Berrimah

“We can make these investments because the Territory Government owns our assets like Power and Water, Territory Generation and Jacana.

“Because we own our assets, we can keep the cost of power low. We also subside the power bill of every Territory household by $1,500 a year through the Community Service Obligation.”

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