The first battery units for the Waratah Super Battery have arrived in Australia and are now being shipped from the Port of Newcastle to the construction site at the former Munmorah Power Station in New South Wales.
The battery units are a critical component for the project and will store and release energy so it can act as a ‘shock absorber’ for the energy system in the case of events like lightning strikes.
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The Waratah Super Battery is one of the largest battery storage projects in the world and will ultimately include around 2,600 of the units.
Shipments will continue to arrive at the Port of Newcastle and be transported to the site over the next several months.
The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) is leading delivery the Waratah Super Battery, which is a Critical State Significant Infrastructure declared project and a key part of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap to deliver a smooth transition to renewable energy.
Akaysha Energy is responsible for the battery’s construction, which began in May 2023.
There are currently over 170 workers on site for the project, and many of its functional components are already in place.
In February, the first of three ‘super load’ transformers arrived onsite, and earlier this month the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) granted Generator Performance Standard approval for the project.
Transgrid is connecting the Waratah Super Battery to the grid via its existing Munmorah substation and carrying out upgrades to the NSW transmission network to enable the operation of the battery.
The Waratah Super Battery is on track to be fully operational by August 2025.
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EnergyCo executive director network planning and technical advisory Andrew Kingsmill said, “This is a significant milestone because it’s the first shipment of equipment that will store the energy in the battery.
“The Waratah Super Battery will play a crucial role in supporting energy security in NSW by managing disruptions to the system, enabling more electricity supply through the existing grid.”
