$41m battery for Broken Hill to aid energy security
The Morrison government will invest nearly $15m to build a new battery in Broken Hill in a bid to improve energy security in regional NSW and help drive down energy prices.
The Morrison government will invest nearly $15m to build a battery in Broken Hill in a bid to improve energy security in regional NSW and help drive down energy prices.
In a joint partnership with AGL, the $41m project will fund the construction of a 50 megawatt lithium-ion battery equipped with grid forming inverters and support increased levels of renewable energy generation in the area.
The government’s $14.84m grant, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, comes as the Coalition pitches its green credentials ahead of the federal election and as part of its plan to reach net zero by 2050.
The announcement follows several investments into energy storage projects as part of the government’s Technology Investment Roadmap, with another $100m funding round for large-scale batteries open for tender.
Broken Hill was selected for the battery because of its location at the fringe of the grid where supply can be unreliable. It will be provided through energy storage provider Fluence and its consortium partner Valmec. It is expected to be operational in 2023.
Energy and Emissions Reductions Minister Angus Taylor said the new battery would help to lower emissions while generating secure energy for the region.
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