Victoria’s second largest BESS (battery energy storage system) has now opened, with the capacity to power 80,000 homes for an hour during peak periods.
The 200MW/400MWh Rangebank BESS is located in Cranbourne and will play a crucial role in helping stabilise Victoria’s electricity supply by providing additional storage capacity which can be discharged at times of peak demand.
The design of Rangebank BESS features a single contiguous concrete slab and externally located high-voltage cabling which ensures simple access for maintenance and improves operational efficiency throughout the lifespan of the project.
By soaking up and storing renewable energy to be discharged at times of peak demand, the Rangebank battery is expected to lower energy bills for households and businesses and provide essential grid system services to support the delivery of safe, secure and reliable electricity for our homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.
The Victorian Government said battery storage is critical to the state’s energy future, with every megawatt of battery storage built leading to 3MW of new renewable energy generation to be unlocked.
The State Government’s legislated renewable energy storage targets are at least 2.6GW by 2030 and 6.3GW by 2035.
Victoria has eleven large scale energy storage systems with a total output capacity of 540MW in operation.
The Rangebank battery is one of a further 12 utility scale battery projects under construction or in commissioning in Victoria, which are expected to add another 1.4GW of additional output capacity and 3.2GWh of storage.
The Victorian Government said building renewable energy storage capacity is key to an affordable and reliable energy supply as Victoria transitions to 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said “Our nation-leading renewable energy storage targets provide certainty and underpin confidence as we deliver the infrastructure our state needs to continue to drive us forward.”
Victorian Member for Cranbourne, Pauline Richards, said “The firm capacity delivered by our energy storage targets will provide reliable, affordable and zero emissions energy to support our communities and families.”
