Market RadarBESS & Batterijparken
Latrobe Valley Transforms into Major Battery Storage Hub
Australia's Latrobe Valley is becoming a battery storage hub. The 350 MW / 1,400 MWh Wooreen BESS has begun commissioning, while Flow Power plans to expand its Bennetts Creek Battery to 300 MW / 1,200 MWh. These projects support the energy transition and offer local benefits.
Australia's Latrobe Valley in Victoria, traditionally a coal-mining region, is rapidly transforming into a significant hub for large-scale battery storage. This shift is highlighted by two major developments: the Wooreen Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and the expansion plans for the Bennetts Creek Battery.
The Wooreen BESS, boasting a capacity of 350 MW and 1,400 MWh of storage (four hours), recently achieved a key milestone. On Tuesday, September 15, the system was integrated into AEMO's (Australian Energy Market Operator) Market Management System (MMS), initiating its commissioning process. This project, developed in partnership with Banpu Energy Australia, is situated in Hazelwood North, adjacent to EnergyAustralia’s existing Jeeralang gas power station. The Wooreen BESS is designed to help compensate for the closure of EnergyAustralia’s Yallourn coal power plant in 2028. EnergyAustralia has invested $700 million in this endeavor, marking it as their largest single investment to date. According to Global Power Energy advisor Geoff Eldridge, Wooreen's strategic location near established transmission infrastructure is crucial for grid stability.
Concurrently, Flow Power is advancing with the Bennetts Creek Battery, located opposite the Morwell Terminal Station. The first stage of this project, a 100 MW / 233 MWh BESS, reached financial close late last year and is anticipated to commence operations by mid-2028. This battery is expected to support the integration of renewable energy and contribute to lowering wholesale electricity prices. Flow Power recently unveiled plans for a second stage, Bennetts Creek Stage 2, which would add an additional storage facility of up to 300 MW and 1,200 MWh (four hours of storage). This proposal is currently in its early planning phase, involving environmental and cultural heritage investigations, and actively seeks community input.
Both stages of the Bennetts Creek Battery aim to deliver ongoing local benefits, including electricity discounts for neighbors and businesses, and support for local organizations. Byron Serjeantson, Flow Power's Chief Operating Officer, emphasized their goal for the Bennetts Creek BESS to provide benefits felt both locally and across the broader energy system.
The rapid progression of these large-scale battery projects in the Latrobe Valley underscores the transition towards a more sustainable energy landscape in Australia.
Source: RenewEconomy
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Talk to Oranje-Eco →This article is an Oranje-Eco summary of a report by RenewEconomy. Read the original: RenewEconomy.
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