Co-located Vanadium Flow Battery Storage and Solar

Summary

Need

The Co-located Vanadium Flow Battery Storage and Solar project acknowledges that a strong uptake of variable renewable energy (VRE) is driving an increasing requirement for storage in the National Electricity Market (NEM). There are multiple storage technologies available or emerging that can help address the challenges identified by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) such as Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES), large-scale lithium-based battery storage and vanadium flow battery storage. When compared with existing storage technologies of PHES and lithium, VFB demonstrates advantages that will allow it to contribute to the emerging medium-term storage need identified by AEMO. VFB can provide medium-duration storage without the geographic restrictions and long lead times of PHES and can provide high cycling storage without the significant cycling degradation of lithium, as well as a better safety profile.

Action

Yadlamalka Energy will build, test and operate a 2 MW / 8 MWh (AC) VFB alongside a DC-coupled 6 MWp (DC) solar PV array. The project will be located adjacent to the Neuroodla substation and approximately 60 km north of Port Augusta, South Australia.

Outcome

Yadlamalka Energy aims to improve the knowledge of the ability of grid-connected VFB to provide energy, FCAS and other network services to the NEM and will demonstrate and share lessons on the technical and commercial operations of a grid-connected VFB project, and how this could be improved for future VFB projects.

Additional impact

The Yadlamalka Energy project will contribute to solving the distributed and intermittent energy problems that exist in South Australia, which are expected to intensify as renewable energy sources are increasingly relied upon. It will commercialise an innovative breakthrough technology to help meet Australia’s future energy needs.

A comprehensive study on the project will be undertaken by the University of South Australia and learnings will be disseminated publicly through a range of knowledge sharing activities.