AGL Thermal Storage at Torrens Island Power Station B Feasibility Study

Summary

Need

AGL Thermal Storage at Torrens Island Power Station B Feasibility Study acknowledges that strong uptake of variable renewable energy is driving a requirement for storage in Australia’s electricity markets. The Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2022 Integrated System Plan states that the electricity market will need significant investment in new flexible, dispatchable capacity to support growth in renewable energy as the thermal fleet retires. TES is potentially a critical tool that can be used to capture cheap or otherwise curtailed variable renewable energy for later use during periods of peak demand.

Action

AGL will test the technical and commercial feasibility of TES technologies from two original equipment manufacturers, Kraftblock and MGA Thermal.

The information gathered and analysis undertaken will be evaluated to provide the overall feasibility of:

1. A full scale gas unit replacement of one unit at the Torrens Island B Power Station including economic feasibility of using stored heat to power industrial applications.
2. A pilot scale co-generation solution which would partially displace existing gas usage and test and de-risk a full-scale implementation.

Outcome

The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Improve understanding of the techno economic feasibility of using thermal energy storage assets for pilot or full scale implementation into an existing power station to provide dispatchable renewable electricity and/or industrial heat.
2. Increase the value delivered by renewable energy through developing storage potential for energy that may otherwise be curtailed.

This project represents the first stage of a multi-stage commercialisation roadmap for delivery of the full unit replacement at the Torrens Island B Power Station.