The highly anticipated Waratah Super Battery project has reached a significant milestone.
The 850-megawatt (MW) energy storage system has been officially registered on the National Electricity Market (NEM).
This achievement comes shortly after the successful energisation of the new Waratah Substation, which connects the massive battery system to the grid.
These two critical milestones pave the way for further testing and commissioning works, bringing the project one step closer to becoming operational next year.
“This is a huge step forward for the Waratah Super Battery project and our State’s transition to secure, reliable grid powered by renewables and storage,” Lulu Shao, Director Power Systems at EnergyCo said.
“Registering on the National Electricity Market is no easy feat, especially for the largest single dispatchable unit on the market and one of the largest grid-scale batteries in the world.”
“This milestone is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of Akaysha and Transgrid and their delivery partners.”
“We look forward to seeing further progress as the Waratah Super Battery undergoes more testing in the lead up to its big debut next year.”
The Waratah Super Battery is a joint effort between Akaysha Energy and its delivery partners, including Consolidated Power Projects, Transgrid, Powin, and eks Energy, all working under the planning and oversight of EnergyCo.
The final units for the battery system have arrived at the Munmorah site and are being installed for the upcoming testing and commissioning phase.
These units began arriving on site as early as April this year.
The Waratah Super Battery project is considered crucial for ensuring energy security in New South Wales as the state transitions away from coal-fired power stations.
Designed to enhance grid reliability, the massive battery system will act as a shock absorber, absorbing sudden power surges caused by events such as lightning strikes.
In addition to the BESS itself, the broader project involves paired generation services, upgrades to the state’s existing transmission network, and the development of an overarching control system.
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