Hornsdale Power Reserve, featuring the world’s largest lithium ion battery, was launched today by South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill and Neoen Deputy CEO Romain Desrousseaux.
For the first time, clean and affordable wind energy can be dispatched to the grid 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether the wind is blowing or not, improving system reliability.
Tesla powerpacks, connected to Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm, are operational and delivering power to the National Energy Market, providing system security services to South Australia.
The ability to dispatch into the system when needed also opens up the opportunity for Hornsdale Power Reserve to sign competitive long-term contracts with medium-sized business directly.
The launch follows a successful period of regulatory testing that ensured the battery’s ability to both act as a generator and charge to and from the National Energy Market.
The battery was delivered ahead of the State Government’s deadline of the beginning of summer, and well ahead of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s self-imposed deadline of “100 days or it’s free”, just 63 days after the grid connection-agreement was signed.
The state government announced its Energy Plan in March 2017, with the objective of delivering cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy to South Australians.
This plan included building the nation’s largest battery, to store renewable energy and have back up power for when we need it.
In July, following a competitive process, French renewable energy company Neoen and US sustainable energy company Tesla were awarded the contract to deliver the project, which would be the world’s largest lithium ion battery and installed near Jamestown.
“This is history in the making,” said South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill. “Neoen and Tesla approached the state government with their bold plan to deliver this project and they have met all of their commitments, ensuring South Australia has back up power this summer.
“I want to express my gratitude to the workers who have constructed this battery – they have every right to be proud of what they’ve constructed.”
“Neoen is pleased to be able to reinforce its Australian footprint through the achievement of the Hornsdale Wind Farm and Battery and is extremely proud to contribute further to the development of renewable energy in Australia,” said Neoen deputy CEO Romain Desrousseaux.