Batteries and energy storage projects

Energy Storage Initiative

The Energy Storage Initiative supported energy storage technologies and projects to:

improve the reliability of Victoria’s electricity system
drive the development of clean technologies
boost the local economy
enhance system security, resilience and reliability.

In March 2018, 2 projects in Western Victoria were chosen to be part of The Energy Storage Initiative – one in Ballarat and one in Gannawarra.

Construction for the Ballarat and Gannawarra Energy Storage Systems was completed in late 2018. Both batteries began operating over the summer of 2018 and 2019.

Supporting the integration of energy storage is one of the actions outlined in the Renewable Energy Action Plan, released in July 2017.

Ballarat Energy Storage System

The Ballarat Energy Storage System is located at the Ballarat Terminal Station in Warrenheip, Victoria.

Spotless Sustainability Services lead the construction of the 30 megawatt (MW) / 30 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery.

Fluence supplied the battery system. It is owned by AusNet Services and operated by Energy Australia.

The Ballarat Energy Storage System provides backup power and grid stabilisation, vital to maintaining a reliable and affordable energy supply in Western Victoria.

Ballarat's big battery powers homes

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Gannawarra Energy Storage System

The Gannawarra Energy Storage System is located at the Gannawarra Solar Farm in Wandella, Victoria.

The 25MW/50MWh battery is a Tesla Powerpack system. It’s jointly owned by Edify Energy and Wirsol Energy and operated by Energy Australia.

This battery is used to smooth the output of the Gannawarra solar farm, allowing the combined solar and battery system to provide power when there is no sun.

The Gannawarra project is the largest integrated solar farm and battery project in Australia and among the largest in the world.

Australia’s largest integrated battery and solar system