This lessons learnt report is focussed on the lessons gained through the construction and registration phases of this project along with the development of the commercial models required for a commercially viable pilot project.
Report extract
Transgrid is developing the Wallgrove Grid Battery to pilot synthetic inertia services using Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology, to maintain frequency stability on the network as well as enable Iberdrola to control dispatch and participate in the FCAS and wholesale energy market for commercial purposes.
Transgrid expects that an inertia gap will be declared in NSW as existing sources of inertia, predominantly coal fired generators, are progressively withdrawn from the market. In preparation for this event, Transgrid is investigating alternate technology solutions to establish technically and commercially viable, lower cost solutions to address the inertia gap.
The Wallgrove Grid Battery will pilot inertia services from a BESS as a network service using both synthetic inertia and Fast Frequency Response services. The project has received funding from both NSW Government and ARENA. Contracts were signed in October 2020 and the project commenced Commercial Operations in December 2021.