Ballarat Energy Storage System (BESS)
- $2.26m Funded by ARENA
- $42.66m Total project cost
Summary
$25 million will be provided to a consortia led by Spotless Sustainability Services to build Ballarat Energy Storage System (BESS) – a 30 megawatt (MW) / 30 megawatt-hour (MWh) large-scale, grid-connected battery located at the Ballarat electricity station (Ballarat Area Terminal Station (BATS).
It is being developed by NuvoGroup (owned by Spotless). Fluence (a AES-Siemens joint venture) is the battery provider, AusNet Services is providing the equity, EnergyAustralia is the long-term offtaker, and ARENA and the Victorian Government are providers of grant funding.
Key results
Commissioned in 2018, the BESS was the first standalone battery-based energy storage system installed in front of the meter and directly connected to the transmission network in Australia — and the first grid-scale battery-based storage system commissioned in the state of Victoria. The project was constructed in nine months and is capable of dispatching services for all eight Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets and energy to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The BESS was a consortium project undertaken by the Spotless / Downer Group, Fluence, AusNet Services, and EnergyAustralia. Spotless provided the lead in forming the consortium, Fluence supplying and maintaining the battery energy storage system, AusNet funding and owning the asset, with EnergyAustralia acting as the market intermediary.
As one of the first large-scale battery systems built in Australia, the BESS has demonstrated flexibility and adaptability of battery based assets and their ability to support higher penetrations of renewable energy. In turn this has provided network stability and helped reduce congestion in Victoria’s electricity grid, as well as assisted with the management of price volatility and reliability risks during high demand periods.
This project consists of:
Learn more
Report: Ballarat Energy Storage System Final
This is the final knowledge sharing report for BESS. It outlines the performance and key learnings over the first 24 months of operation.
Report: Ballarat Energy Storage System Operational Report 3 & 4
This report outlines the performance of BESS over 13 to 24 months of operation.
Report: Ballarat BESS: Knowledge Sharing Report
This report has been prepared to provide information with regards to the installation and commissioning of a utility scale, transmission asset connected, Battery Energy Storage System.
Report: Ballarat Energy Storage System Revenue Report
This report outlines potential revenue opportunities for the Ballarat Battery Energy Storage System.
Report: Ballarat Energy Storage System Report 1 & 2
The purpose of this report is to share the learnings from the first twelve months of operation of the Ballarat System.
Report: Large-Scale Battery Storage Knowledge Sharing Report
This report summarises the key lessons and innovation opportunities for Large-Scale Battery Storage (LSBS) projects in Australia.
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Image: BESS Battery Site
Arial view of the BESS battery site.
How the project works
The Ballarat Energy Storage System (BESS) led by Spotless, Nuvo Group, AusNet Services will store energy at times of relatively low value. The battery will use stored energy and use it at times of relatively high value. The project will also examine providing other grid services such as frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) and, should it be established under the electricity market rules, a Fast Frequency Response (FFR).
Area of innovation
The Ballarat Energy Storage System project will help storage become a trusted system solution, which in turn will influence both regulatory and market responses to system security issues around increasing intermittent renewable penetration. This could help prevent other response measures or long term policy/investment decisions which would otherwise curtail renewable energy investment. Through knowledge sharing, this project will demonstrate the value of battery services and assist to bridge the current gap to commercial viability, allowing other similar battery storage projects to progress without subsidy.
Benefit
The Ballarat Energy Storage System project will demonstrate how batteries can help provide grid stability and support on a congested transmission terminal, at a critical location, reducing the need to expand the substation. The battery will be capable of powering 20,000 homes for an hour.
Note
ARENA and the Victorian Government will jointly provide $25 million in funding for both this project and the Gannawarra Energy Storage System (GESS).
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