Neoen Victorian Big Battery (Moorabool) Retrofit

Summary

Need

Declining system strength in the National Electricity Market is making it more difficult to connect inverter-based renewable generators in the National Electricity Market. Grid-forming inverters are a promising solution, which can help maintain system stability in increasingly weak grids. However, more demonstration projects are required to build experience in the technology, such that it can be relied on.  

Action

Neoen will procure retrofit grid-forming capability onto the 300 MW / 450 MWh VBB located at the Moorabool terminal station in Victoria. The VBB is made up of Tesla Megapack systems that already include inverters capable of providing Tesla’s grid-forming mode (known as “Virtual Machine Mode”), although this capability is not currently enabled. Switching from grid-following to grid-forming modes requires a change to the grid connection agreement via the method stated in clause 5.3.9 of the National Electricity Rules. 

Outcome

The Project links to the Large-Scale Battery Storage (LSBS) Funding Round and Advancing Renewables Program (ARP) Outcomes of improving technology readiness of renewable energy technologies, and removing barriers to renewable energy uptake, by demonstrating the potential of an LSBS with grid-forming inverters to provide system strength. The objectives for the Project will be achieved through the following Outcomes: 

1. Demonstrate advanced inverter capabilities on LSBS projects at scale. 
2. Overcome barriers that prevent LSBS projects from incorporating advanced inverter capabilities. 
3. Improve industry understanding of the potential role of advanced inverters in supporting system stability during periods of very high inverter-based generation. 
4. Reduce the reliance on synchronous generators and/or synchronous condensers for system stability.  
5. Demonstrate the capability of advanced inverters (at scale) such that it can be relied upon for critical system services in power system planning.  
6. Inform the market regulatory bodies to facilitate the efficient delivery of services from Grid-Forming Batteries.