The largest utility-scale battery to be connected to the Western Power electricity network has been transported to Kalbarri, where it will become the centrepiece for a new microgrid.
The 5MW battery building is 25m long, 5m wide and weighs just under 60 tonnes – taking nearly a full day to load onto the trucks for transport.
The battery transport represents a significant milestone for the integration of renewable energy resources into the grid.
It will be a key part of the microgrid design, supplying a minimum of 2MWh at any time when there is a network outage.
Work has been ongoing to prepare the Kalbarri network for the microgrid installation, including enhancements that will allow the network and battery to become islanded and draw directly from renewable sources during a network outage.
The microgrid is an innovative solution that adds another level of certainty for the Kalbarri community, particularly during its peak tourism season where power demand almost doubles.
The design is aimed to enhance supply reliability, whilst maintaining the flexibility to grow with the population of Kalbarri.
Construction of the microgrid is expected to be completed by early 2020 with commissioning and operational trial completed in late 2020.
