Australia’s most renewable grid has another big battery, providing “baseload” wind to huge mine

The first big battery signed up to help deliver a “baseload renewables” contract – in this case BHP’s giant Olympic Dam mine in South Australia – has now started full operations.

Neoen’s 238.5 MW, 477 MWh Blyth battery will combine with output from the Goyder South wind project to meet the BHP contract, and will be the company’s second big battery in the state, nearly eight years after the world’s first big battery at Hornsdale was built.

“Blyth battery will not only contribute to the grid, but also support Neoen’s first-ever renewable energy baseload contract, helping firm wind power from our Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm to power operations at BHP’s Olympic Dam,” Neoen said in a LinkedIn post.

The development is significant as it is the sixth big battery to join the grid in South Australia – after Hornsdale, Dalrymple North, Lake Bonney, Torrens Island, and Tailem Bend.

South Australia has the highest share of wind and solar in Australia – and the world – with 72 per cent over the last 12 months and aims to reach 100 per cent net renewables in 2027, and is reporting big demand from companies with big loads to join the grid.

Blyth completed construction – ahead of time – late last year, and has completed its commissioning process on time, despite flagging some hurdles and issues with the connection process for the grid forming inverters that will also be rolled out at the facility.

The battery was delivered by NHOA Energy, in partnership with Elecnor Australia. It says the battery was completed on time, on budget and in compliance with performance requirements from AEMO and ElectraNet.

“We fulfilled our performance commitment to Neoen and its lenders, on time and on budget. This is what matters, in a scenario where energy storage systems become the cornerstone of grid stability, security and an affordable and sustainable energy supply,” said Lucie Kanius-Dujardin, the global managing director of NHOA Energy.

Neoen, now owned by global asset management giant Brookfield, now has five big batteries operating or going through commissioning in Australia, including what will be the country’s biggest – a 560 MW, 2240 MWh facility at Collie in Western Australia.

It also operates the Western Downs battery in Queensland, which will double in size to 540 MW, 1080 MWh, along with the Capital battery in the ACT.

It also built the Victoria Big Battery and the Bulgana battery in Victoria, but these are now opened by HMC Capital under a deal required to satisfy regulatory requirements from the Brookfield takeover.

“Blyth Battery is a great example of Neoen’s continuing commitment to grid stability and reliability in South Australia,” said Jean-Christophe Cheylus, the CEO of Neoen Australia. 

“We are proud to lead the State’s battery storage market and are excited to start supporting BHP under our innovative renewable energy baseload contract.” The BHP contract is for 70 MW of continuous power.

See Renew Economy’s Big Battery Map of Australia for further information.

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