The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $5 million in funding will go toward Infigen Energy for the installation of a 25 megawatt (MW) to 52 megawatt-hour Tesla battery at the Lake Bonney Wind Farm in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
The $38 million Lake Bonney Project is also supported by the South Australian Government with a $ 5 million grant under its Renewable Technology Fund. The grid-scale battery will be built adjacent to Infigen’s existing 278.5MW wind farm, connecting it to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via the Mayurra substation.
“The Marshall Government are strong supporters of increasing battery storage to harness the full potential of South Australia’s abundant renewable energy and the lower prices that will be delivered to households and businesses,” said the South Australian Minister for Energy, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, earlier this morning.
The brand-new Tesla battery is set to deliver flexible capacity and system security services, such as Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS), to the electricity grid in South Australia.
ARENA Chief Executive Officer, Ivor Frischknecht, said battery storage was forming a key component of transitioning to an energy system powered by renewables.
“It is clear that grid-scale batteries have an important role in stabilising the grid,” Mr Frischknecht stated, “the co-location of a battery with a wind farm provides an opportunity for Infigen to pursue regulatory changes that could improve revenue outcomes for grid-scale batteries, helping to become more competitive.”
The co-location of a battery with a wind farm provides an opportunity for Infigen to improve its frequency control ancillary services causer pays outcomes and pursue regulatory changes that could improve revenue outcomes for large-scale batteries.
“Infigen’s strategy is to supply clean energy to our customers and participate in growth opportunities in the NEM. We are delighted to be able to work with global technology leader Tesla, ARENA and the South Australian Government to contribute to improved energy security and reliability of supply for South Australian energy consumers,” announced Mr Ross Rolfe, Chief Executive Office of Infigen.
Construction activities are expected to commence in the coming weeks.
More information on the Lake Bonney Project can be found here.
