Victoria launches a request for expression of interest for 20-MW battery storage facility

The government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced a call for Expressions of Interest to build Australia's first grid scale battery storage facility.

The new 20 MW battery will have up to 80 MWh of battery storage. The project will be developed in areas where the Victorian government and key partners have identified opportunities to improve grid reliability and integration of renewable energy. In particular the government has identified the north-west (including Horsham and Bendigo) and the south-west (including Terang) as priority locations for storage.

The government is seeking proposals which can readily be delivered in the transmission and distribution network to support grid reliability. It also seeks to explore options to support new large-scale wind and solar plants into the grid.

This initiative follows a recent state government announcement of AUD5 million (US$3.8 million) for large-scale battery storage which will enhance the performance and security of the grid. The announcement will feed into a large scale storage and flexible capacity expression of interest process being undertaken by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). ARENA has agreed that the project  will receive Agency funding if it meets the selection criteria.

The Victorian Government and the ARENA will continue to work with the Australian Energy Market Operator to finalize a tender that will be issued publically in April 2017.

For further information abut the project, visit our business opportunity section.

Minister for Energy, Environment & Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio, said:

"We are in the midst of a major global transformation and we're making sure Victoria is equipped with the next generation of energy technologies that will support a resilient energy system."

"We're taking the action required to ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for Victorians while we deliver on our renewable energy targets."