By Liz Westcott, Chief Operating Officer, EnergyAustralia

When we announced a commitment earlier this year to build Australia’s first four-hour, utility-scale battery with a 350MW capacity by 2026, we had one key objective in mind: To make sure our customers continued to have low-cost energy when they need it most.

Located on the same site as EnergyAustralia’s Jeeralang gas-fired power station in Victoria, the Wooreen Energy Storage System will pack enough power to run more than 230,000 households for four hours. Its ability to dispatch power rapidly in periods of high demand will help maintain supplies and keep customer costs down.

The Wooreen system will be the biggest battery in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. Together with other big energy storage projects, it is critical to the clean energy transition as baseload coal-fired power stations retire and are replaced by renewable energy.

We believe our battery will reduce price volatility at times of low renewable generation by boosting our capacity for long-duration, grid-scale storage. 

Packing power

The Wooreen system marks a big step up from the other batteries EnergyAustralia operates in the state of Victoria. Our Ballarat battery system began operating in December 2018, providing energy for just over 20,000 homes for an hour, while the battery system in Gannawarra – which began operating in March 2019 – can supply around 16,000 homes for two hours.

Wooreen is more than 20 times bigger and demonstrates just how much technology has progressed in the space of two years.

Battery cells are improving in duration as well as coming down in price through economies of scale, which means they are better, and we can install more of them. It’s a bit like buying a TV. Your new TV will be bigger, cost less, and have more features than your old one. 

Solar burst

Currently, more than 25 per cent of the National Electricity Market’s energy comes from renewable sources with a record seven gigawatts of new capacity installed last year – more than twice the maximum demand of South Australia in just one year.  Solar panels are now fitted to more than 2.5 million homes.

The Wooreen system will allow more renewables to enter the system and provide frequency control and stability. The battery will charge up when renewables are generating, then provide households with power when they need it.  

Putting people first

It is hoped the Wooreen system, along with other renewable projects planned for the region, will provide new opportunities for workers displaced by the closure of power stations, including Yallourn which is due to close in 2028 under a generous employee support programme.

The system will be operational by 2026 with construction expected to take around 18 months, providing jobs for around 80 people in the Latrobe Valley area.

EnergyAustralia has a history of working closely with the communities in which it operates. Since the project was announced in March, we have been undertaking feasibility studies that look at technical requirements and potential environmental impact. We are also in talks with the local community, including Latrobe City Council and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC).

EnergyAustralia operates on Aboriginal land, so it is important we work with GLaWAC to ensure we respect the country and culture. We are extremely grateful to Gunai Elder Aunty Doris Paton and the GLaWAC for giving their blessing to the name Wooreen, which is the Gunai word for light.

We are now embarking on a more comprehensive programme of discussions with the local community, and recently wrote to residents to explain the project and invite feedback and ideas. 

EnergyAustralia is also constructing the 300+ MW Tallawarra B power station in New South Wales, Australia’s first net zero emissions hydrogen and gas capable power plant which will deliver reliable power to around 150,000 homes in time for the summer of 2023-24.

In addition, we are developing the Lake Lyell pumped hydro energy storage project – an exciting opportunity for the Lithgow region on the existing Mount Piper power plant site in New South Wales that shows how existing assets can be intelligently repurposed in the energy transition.

EnergyAustralia is determined to help build a modern energy system for Australia. We are hugely excited by the potential of technology like battery systems and the contribution they can make towards our goal of delivering reliable, affordable, low-carbon energy to our 2.4 million customers.