Big batteries may soon play a major role in Australia’s main grid

Ballarat's big battery (Source: RenewEconomy)

Stand-alone big batteries may soon be playing a critical role in eastern Australia’s massive electricity grid as recommended by the Australian Energy Regulator recently. The grid needs major upgrades as it transitions to a clean energy future.

The big batteries have been in Australia for less than three years with the big Hornsdale Tesla battery starting the trend and showing us that these batteries have many more features than just energy storage. This battery was followed by four others on the main grid at Lake Bonney, Dalrymple North, Gannawarra and Ballarat. 

These batteries have shown that they: allow the output of wind and solar to be “stored” and “firmed”; provide much needed competition in the frequency and ancillary services market; play a key role in grid security; reduce costs and improve reliability for off-grid iron ore mines; reduce overall grid costs; respond within milliseconds to power failures or peak demand; and cause power engineers to admit there is a smarter future than relying on ageing and slow responding coal generators (RenewEconomy).

Big batteries are therefore seen as ‘virtual transmission’ lines that can absorb excess solar and wind power at times of oversupply and instantly inject power at times of demand. This therefore reduces the need for extra poles and wires. Now they are ready for the next stage – playing a critical link in providing much-needed increased capacity between the various state grids. 

This is now the view of the Australian Energy Regulator, which has encouraged transmission companies to look into battery storage technologies as an option for the numerous grid upgrades that have been recommended by the Australian Energy Market Operator to ease the transition to a renewables-dominated grid. 

Read more: 

- “Big batteries get ready to play main role in next stage of clean energy transition.” RenewEconomy, April 1, 2020. 

- “Battery storage nearly there as smarter, cheaper choice for grid upgrades.” RenewEconomy, October 1, 2019.