SA Housing Trust batteries save the day during QLD power station failure
Batteries installed in hundreds of SA Housing Trust homes were used to stabilise the electricity grid when a Queensland coal-fired power station failed last month.
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Batteries installed in hundreds of SA Housing Trust homes were used to stabilise the electricity grid when a Queensland coal-fired power station failed last month.
The batteries, which are linked together in what is called a virtual power plant, immediately injected power into the grid when the Kogan Creek coal plant tripped.
The incident showed how solar and battery technology “can contribute to a secure and reliable electricity network, while also reducing energy costs for participating consumers”, the Australian Energy Market Operator said.
The operator is working with the State Government to use the 900 Housing Trust homes equipped with solar and batteries as a trial.
AEMO’s executive general manager emerging markets and services Violette Mou-chaileh said Australians were leading the global adoption of such energy resources, which exported energy back into as well as providing critical services for the grid.
“It’s these critical network services traditionally performed by large-scale, conventional electricity generators that contribute to the security and reliability of the Australia’s rapidly transforming electricity sector,” he said.
The Kogan Creek failure on October 9 suddenly took 748MW out of supply, causing a big drop in the frequency level of the system. The response by SA’s virtual power plant and other participants stabilised the system.
Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said it showed why the State Government had the most ambitious home-battery program in the country, with batteries providing both savings to consumers and valuable support to the grid at a local and national scale.
“Although the virtual power plant is in its early days, it is already demonstrating how it can provide the network support traditionally performed by large conventional generators” he said.
Gilberton resident Alan Hedges, pictured, is among people who have joined the scheme. “Since installing my battery, my winter electricity bill has gone from $1034.24 to $344.88,” he said.
“Knowing I’m helping others save money through the renewable energy I generate and put back into the grid is also really important to me.”
The scheme is led by Tesla and retailer Energy Locals and has been included in AEMO trial work since mid-September.
It was supported by a $2.46 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.