Photon Energy Group, a renewable energy company based in Amsterdam, has secured 1,200 hectares of land in South Australia to develop the world’s largest solar energy storage project with Australian technology company RayGen.
Photon Energy Group, which delivers solar energy and clean water solutions around the world, is currently developing multiple sites in Australia suitable for RayGen’s solar technology, in combination with its energy storage solution.
Photon Energy has commenced the permitting and grid connection processes and expects to reach the ready-to-build stage by the end of 2023.
At 3.6GWh the project exceeds the largest energy storage project of any type to date, excluding pumped hydro, worldwide.
Based on preliminary designs, Photon Energy will develop a solar generation capacity of 300MW with a grid connection capacity of 150MW.
The target energy storage capacity is 3.6GWh, equivalent to 24 hours of full load, to the grid, from storage.
This will exceed the 3GWh capacity of the Ouarzazate Solar Power Station in Morocco, which currently has the world’s largest energy storage capacity of any type, excluding pumped hydro.
Michael Gartner, CTO of Photon Energy Group and Managing Director of Photon Energy Australia, said, “We are very excited to be developing this innovative and globally significant solar energy storage project in South Australia.
“The enviable solar resource and need for energy storage due to high penetration of renewables in this region is a perfect match for RayGen’s technology.”
RayGen recently closed its Series C capital raise for $55 million where Photon Energy participated alongside AGL Energy, Schlumberger New Energy, Chevron Technology Ventures and Equinor Ventures.
RayGen is also currently building a 4MW/50MWh solar energy-plus-storage plant in Carwarp, Victoria, due for completion in mid-2022.
