The highly anticipated $10 million big battery on Phillip Island, off the south coast of Victoria, has been switched on, with a capability of storing enough power for 8000 homes.
In early June 2023, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio and AusNet CEO Tony Narvaez opened the Phillip Island Community Energy Storage System – PICESS – which will replace diesel generators previously used to provide back-up power during peak summer demand.
“Replacing generators with the big battery will stabilise electricity supply on the island when it is needed most,” says Narvaez.
“The population of Phillip Island more than quadruples during summer, which puts a strain on the local electricity network, and at times leads to power dropping out.
“This battery, which in time will be powered by renewable energy, will help solve this issue.”
The PICESS system utilises a Hitachi 5MW/10MWh lithium-ion phosphate battery that can power more than 8000 homes for two hours, or 700 homes for a day. It is connected to the electricity grid via underground cables.
Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI) and the Energy Innovation Cooperative (EI Coop) have worked with AusNet, Mondo and Bass Coast Shire Council to deliver the battery.
“Twenty-five local jobs were created in the region during construction, with the project providing Phillip Island residents with new energy job opportunities,” says Narvaez.
“This project is the first of its kind on Phillip Island and has helped us build a greater understanding of how batteries fit into the broader energy transition from coal-generated electricity to renewables.”