Australia- the biggest privately funded big battery is under construction on the site of the former Hazelwood power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. In 2017, Engie closed the Coal-fired plant and expects its new $150m battery to be operating by November 2022. The company said in a statement, new Battery will use existing infrastructure at the Hazelwood site to link to the electricity grid. Last year, Australia’s dirtiest coal-fired power shut down completely. Furthermore, its Chimneys were demolish using explosives.
New Big Battery
The new battery which is already under construction at an estimated cost of $150m will be running in November 2022. Furthermore, It will be smaller than the 350 MW battery. Engie and Macquarie said that besides storing electricity during peak times, the battery will help stabilize supply. Something that expects to become increasingly important as the amount of renewable energy in the system increases.
Moreover, the battery will function under Fluence, a joint venture between German electronics group Siemens and American power generator AES. Greg Callman, the global head of energy technology at Macquarie’s green Investment group said, ‘’ it will support the transition to green energy and will ‘’ ensure that electricity networks are resilient, reliable and flexible.’’
Also, Engie’s Chief Executive , Augustin Honorat said that the company had a ‘’long-term Commitment’’ to Hazelwood. The Latrobe Valley that Included remediating the site and acting as ‘’the builder and owner of a new energy asset. That helps with decarburisation of the energy system.’’
