A new report makes it clear that Australia must expand its energy storage capacity to meet the escalating demands of a net-zero future.
Australia’s energy storage capacity needs to surge from its current level of three gigawatts (GW) to a 49GW by 2050 if it hopes to keep pace with ever-greater demand and ensure a stable and reliable grid, according to a new report from the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Chelion Australia, a leading player in the energy storage market, is at the forefront of this transition, offering a comprehensive range of solutions that cater to the diverse needs of residential, commercial and utility-scale customers.
ecogeneration sat down with Chelion Australia CEO Craig Nalder to discuss the company’s pioneering approach to energy storage solutions.
Leadership driving solutions
Chelion’s leadership foresaw the increasing complexity that comes with decentralised energy systems and recognised the growing need for user-friendly solutions.
The company’s focus on energy storage solutions is not just about market opportunities but rather a direct result of the collective experience of its global leadership, particularly Chairman Dr Yang Pang and Global CEO and co-founders Zhan Gao (Zeight) and CTO Longhui Wu.
“Dr Pang transitioned from being a quantum physics professor at Columbia University to a successful Wall Street investment banker and renewable industry investor” Nalder said.
“His global perspective set the stage for Chelion’s commitment to renewable energy, recognising early on that energy storage would play a critical role in the decentralisation of the grid.”
Gao, with significant management experience in the global renewables industry, has been instrumental in driving Chelion’s sales and project investments. His leadership has been key in expanding Chelion’s footprint to Japan, North America, Australia and Europe.
Wu holds a PhD from Xi’an Jiaotong University and a Post-PhD from Southeast University. With more than 15 years of experience in the power electronics industry, he served as Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer at Suzhou Action Power from 2014 to 2021. Wu has received multiple awards and published more than 10 papers, and he also holds 27 patents, including 14 invention patents.
Nalder brings more than 25 years of energy industry experience to Chelion, in energy regulation, energy retail, PV, energy trading, investment banking and power development, including more than 15 years as a CEO.
Chelion’s COO Craig Parkes has more than 25 years of global business experience, specialising in business strategies and managing large-scale solar and battery projects within the energy and utility industry.
This strong leadership team, along with the South Pacific office and integration facility based in Brisbane, manages sales, delivery, integration, aftersales support and customer service for Chelion’s Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific clients.
Innovative technologies
Chelion’s residential systems in Australia emphasise simplicity and integration. Featuring hybrid inverters with full back-up and dual MPPTs (maximum power point tracking), they are designed to allow easy upgrades.
Chelion combines hardware and software to optimise battery performance, providing insights into energy use, storage and grid interactions. Its user-friendly system requires no technical expertise.
For commercial use, Chelion’s Shanghai research and development (R&D) team developed software for remote energy system management across multiple sites, ensuring efficiency.
Chelion’s China facility assembles utility containers with advanced software for real-time monitoring and adjustments, allowing scalable and customisable projects, including in Australasia.
Local delivery and after-sales support in Australia ensure service for local and New Zealand clients.
Flexible solutions for Australia
The unique challenges faced in Australia – vast geography, a dispersed coastal population and ageing power infrastructure – create inefficiencies in energy distribution and complicate the transition to renewable energy.
Chelion sees decentralisation as key to addressing these issues, but complex energy solutions can hinder customer adoption.
“Energy storage and decentralised energy are crucial for a sustainable future, but designing these systems often requires complex, tailored technical and commercial solutions that the experience in Chelion can offer with superior customer service” Nalder said.
Chelion’s solutions-focused approach helps to simplify energy storage management for homeowners and utility operators. Its integrated software optimises energy usage, balancing power consumption and grid interaction to maximise savings and sustainability.
Some of Chelion’s major projects include providing energy storage for BT Energy Australia as part of BT’s overall hybrid electronic power control (EPC) solution for a major infrastructure client in Port Hedland, Western Australia, which the company said demonstrates its expertise in tackling complex energy integrations.
This 600-kilowatt (kW), 2.8-megawatt-hour (MW/h) installation was a challenge due to its multifaceted requirements such as providing network-compliant system stability during cloud events for the new 1.2MW ground-mounted solar farm, while integrating with the existing facility infrastructure.
Another notable project is Chelion’s installation at the Port of Townsville, which highlights its expertise in delivering energy solutions that meet space constraints.
The 200–300kW/h battery system not only reduces grid reliance and improves carbon emissions but also fits within the limited available space. The software controls emergency back-up and grid interactions, ensuring optimal performance despite the spatial limitations.
Local team, global reach
Chelion distinguishes itself with a global presence across Europe, Asia and the US, bolstered by strong R&D capacity in China, which it describes as “a global innovation hub for energy storage technologies”.
“By tapping into this multi-national network, we can design and manufacture solutions with efficiency unmatched by small competitors,” Nalder said.
Chelion is positioning itself on Australia’s growing EV market, focusing on household chargers. Additionally, Chelion has designed and integrated a 5MW/11MWh utility BESS solution, which has seen several sales in 2024.
Nalder also emphasised the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the energy transition, involving a deep understanding of market dynamics, engineering, software and hardware.
“Our strategy integrates these components to provide comprehensive solutions,” he said. “By leveraging our expertise in each area, we aim to lead the market in delivering efficient and effective energy solutions.”
Leading at All Energy
Chelion will highlight several key components of its product line-up at the 2024 All Energy Australia Expo in Melbourne in October.
“We’ll showcase our popular commercial storage cabinet, which received positive feedback last year,” Nalder said.
“Attendees can see how our solutions can be customised for specific needs.
“We’ll also present our EV chargers for residential and centralised installations, as well as our residential systems, including all-in-one and split configurations. This will provide a complete view of our offerings and their flexibility.”
For more information, visit chelion.com.au
This article featured in the October edition of ecogeneration.
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