Big batteries hit “staggering” new peak of 37.2 pct of peak demand in Australia’s biggest isolated grid

The renewable and battery storage records continue to tumble in Western Australia, which has become a keen focus of those engaged in the energy transition because it is the largest isolated grid in Australia, and quite likely the world.

The latest record to fall is once again battery storage, which reached a share of 37.2 per cent of grid demand on Saturday evening, a level that is surpassed only by other grids that have interconnections – such as South Australia and California.

The landmark was noted by the state’s co-ordinator of energy, Jai Thomas, in a LinkedIn post.

“A staggering 37.2 per cent utility battery contribution to peak demand on Saturday evening, after 78 per cent renewables during the day (and 53 per cent over the weekend),” he wrote.

“Of course, the battery figure doesn’t include contribution from BTM (behind the meter) batteries, so the contribution is understated if anything.

“The SWIS (the south-west interconnect system, which is the main grid in W.A.) is showing what is possible in the energy transition!”

W.A. is of interest because – while it is encouraging huge LNG and gas projects on one hand that will make net zero all but impossible for the state as a whole – it is committed to a rapid transition from coal by the end of the decade.

Efforts to meet this have ramped up considerably in recent years, including a flood of big battery projects – including the country’s two biggest operating big batteries at Collie (pictured above) – and more recently a series of power purchase agreements and transmission spending commitments.

Last week, the results of two new tenders held under the auspices of the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme were also announced, aiming to deliver six new wind farms, two large solar-battery hybrid projects and two near eight-hour standalone batteries.

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