AGL will commence construction this year on a 250-megawatt (MW), one-hour duration grid-scale battery at Torrens Island, following AGL’s final investment decision (FID) on the project.
AGL managing director and CEO, Brett Redman said South Australia is leading the way in the rollout of AGL’s 850MW network of grid-scale batteries by the end of the financial year 2024.
“We put forward our vision for this project less than six months ago and with the hard work of our team and support from the South Australian government we are now ready to make this a reality,” he said.
“Generating more power from wind than any other state, we know this battery will be instrumental in maintaining reliable and affordable supply for households and businesses in South Australia in the years ahead.”
South Australian Energy Minister, Dan van Holst Pellekaan said South Australia will soon have a new ‘biggest battery’, funded by the private sector, which is a strong vote of confidence in the government’s energy policies.
“This will be the fifth grid-scale battery in our state, and the fourth one built since the last state election,” Minister van Holst Pellekaan said.
“This investment shows the confidence the private sector has in South Australia’s energy sector.”
AGL chief operating officer Markus Brokhof said battery technology is key to enhancing the energy system’s flexibility while leading Australia’s energy transition and ongoing integration of renewables.
“It is through low emission firming technology, like batteries, that we are continuing to drive AGL’s energy transition and respond to the accelerating market forces of customer demand, community expectation and the development of technology,” Brokhof said.
“Our battery program will also support us in achieving our target of net zero emissions by 2050.”
Earlier this year, AGL entered into framework agreements with global energy storage technology companies, Wartsila and Fluence, and is currently finalising the provider arrangements for this project in order to begin construction.
AGL is targeting full operation of the system by early 2023.