The Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, which includes the world’s largest lithium ion battery, has been launched, marking a landmark moment for renewable energy at the facility.
The facility will deliver for the first time, clean and affordable wind energy that will be dispatched to the grid 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether the wind is blowing or not, improving system reliability.
Tesla powerpacks, connected to Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm, are now operational and delivering power to the National Energy Market, providing system security services to SA.
The ability to dispatch into the system when needed, also opens up the opportunity for Hornsdale Power Reserve to sign competitive long-term contracts with medium-sized business directly.
The launch follows a successful period of regulatory testing that ensured the battery’s ability to both act as a generator and charge to and from the National Energy Market.
The battery was delivered ahead of the South Australian Government’s deadline at the start of December 2017.
In March 2017, the SA Government announced its Energy Plan, with the objective of delivering cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy to South Australians.
This plan included building the nation’s largest battery, to store renewable energy and have backup power for when we need it.
In July 2017 following a competitive process, French renewable energy company Neoen and US sustainable energy company Tesla, were awarded the contract to deliver the project, which would be the world’s largest lithium ion battery and installed near Jamestown.
Neoen Deputy CEO, Romain Desrousseaux, said SA was now at the forefront of global energy storage technology.
“Neoen is pleased to be able to reinforce its Australian footprint through the achievement of the Hornsdale Wind Farm and battery, and is extremely proud to contribute further to the development of renewable energy in Australia,” Mr Desrousseaux said.
Tesla said the completion of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery in record time shows that a sustainable, effective energy solution is possible.
