01/12/2017

'History In The Making': Tesla Switches On World's Largest Battery In SA

Fairfax - Cole Latimer

The world's largest lithium-ion battery has officially launched on Friday in South Australia.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill  and Neoen deputy chief executive Romain Desrousseaux flipped the switch on the Tesla-made battery storage installation, stating that "this is history in the making".

Tesla's mega battery turned on
The world's largest lithium-ion battery launches in South Australia on Friday, December 1.

"South Australia is now leading the world in dispatchable renewable energy, delivered to homes and businesses 24/7," Mr Weatherill said.
The 100-megawatt battery system provides 129-megawatt hours of energy, reduces intermittency issues, and manages increased demand during summer peak loading periods, potentially providing enough energy to power 30,000 homes for eight hours, or 60,000 homes for four hours.
It is paired with French energy firm Neoen's Hornsdale wind farm, located near Jamestown, about 200 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Tesla billionaire Elon Musk was not in attendance at the switch-on.
Mr Desrousseaux said the launch is a major achievement in Australia's energy landscape.
"Neoen is pleased to be able to reinforce its Australian footprint through the achievement of the Hornsdale Wind Farm & Battery and is extremely proud to contribute further to the development of renewable energy in Australia," Mr Desrousseaux said.
SA Premier Jay Weatherill during the launch of Tesla's 100 megawatt lithium-ion battery at Jamestown. Photo: AAP
Tesla said this battery will support the state and provide increased security for summer, helping South Australia meet heavy demand.
"The South Australian government should be congratulated for ensuring their energy supply is not only sustainable, but will help solve power shortages, reduce variability, and manage summertime peak load," a Tesla spokesman said.
Tesla Powerpacks used to form the mega battery.. Photo: Carla Gottgens
Praveen Kathpal, vice president of rival battery technology firm AES Energy and chairman of the Energy Storage Association in the US, said the state should be celebrated for its actions.
"We commend the state government for not just being forward thinking, but forward acting," Mr Kathpal told Fairfax Media.
He said the technology is moving to the stage where it is becoming a more mainstream tool for the energy sector.
"Battery storage creates a much more resilient system as you can respond to a crisis in a much quicker way," he said.
The battery had its first real test a day earlier, providing 59 megawatts of power into South Australia's grid in order to meet Thursday's peak demand period.
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While the future baseload contract prices are significantly higher for South Australia, reaching nearly $173.25 per megawatt hour in the March 2018 despite the battery's installation, AEMO stated this is due to upcoming heatwaves set to hit the region, driving up prices for the quarter.
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The new battery comes as the Australian Energy Market Operator forecasts a Lack Of Reserve 1 for South Australia due to the hotter than expected November.
This means AEMO has indicated power generators in South Australia's market should generate more to provide a buffer for increased energy demand ahead.
"This scenario is exactly what AEMO has planned for in our summer readiness plan," AEMO Chief Executive Officer Audrey Zibelman said.
"As widely reported over the last two days, AEMO has procured generation and demand response reserves that can be activated if the need arises," Ms Zibelman said.
As part of its wider energy storage push, South Australia has also green lit more than $8 million in support of four new projects through the Renewable Technology Fund.
These include two major solar and battery storage projects, a thermal storage that holds heat generated from waste water, and a hydrogen production project.
"We are seeing major international businesses like Tesla and SolarReserve investing in South Australia because we have world-class renewable energy resources," South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said.
"The Renewable Technology Fund is harnesses this momentum so we can drive new projects and establish South Australia as a global hub for the storage of renewable energy."

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