A new network-connected battery has gone live in Toowoomba.
The 4-megawatt (MW)/8 megawatt-hour (MWh) Torrington battery, built next to Ergon Energy’s Boundary Street substation, will store surplus solar energy for use during peak demand.
With about 34 per cent of homes and nearly 20 per cent of businesses in the area already generating rooftop solar, the battery is designed to absorb excess output and release it locally when the grid requires support.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki said the project aligned with Queensland’s rapid uptake of distributed energy.
“Queenslanders are putting solar on homes and businesses at world record rates, with more than 40 percent of houses across Queensland now with rooftop solar,” he said.
“This battery will allow more solar energy to be stored while the sun is shining and used when it is needed to help stabilise the grid. It will be stored locally and used locally when electricity demand is high, proving to be an essential tool for managing the renewable energy flowing into the electricity network.”
The Torrington unit forms part of Energy Queensland’s second-stage battery rollout, with 12 similar installations under development across the state.
Energy Queensland’s Jason Hall said the approach was designed to address operational challenges from increasing solar penetration.
“Torrington is one of 12 batteries currently being built around the State in stage two of Energy Queensland’s battery program,” he said.
“The capacity of these batteries will be shared between retailers and the networks to help manage not only the local energy flows but also be used on the wholesale electricity market.”
The system can deliver two hours of full output, equating to evening supply for roughly 500 households. By diverting energy flows from rooftop solar into the local network and wholesale market, the battery is expected to help reduce curtailment and keep downward pressure on prices.
Local MPs Pat Weir and Trevor Watts said the installation would increase reliability for Toowoomba homes and businesses while keeping locally generated power in the region.