Construction begins on four hour Kwinana battery to soak up rooftop solar

Construction has already begun on the second phase of the Western Australian Kwinana Battery, just weeks after the project gained planning approval.

The government, through its state-owned utility Synergy, is building the 200MW, four hour (800MWh) battery next to the 100MW, two hour (200MWh) first stage of the Kwinana battery that was only recently completed.

The new batteries are part of an accelerated plan by WA authorities to address the growing issues around the “solar duck” curve in the world’s biggest isolated grid, and are designed specifically to soak up rooftop solar produced in the middle of the day and send it back out to the grid in the evening peaks.

Another two big batteries are also planned to help address the same issue – a 219MW, four hour (877MWh) battery to be built by Neoen at Collie, the first stage of a potential 1GW, 4GWh battery at the same site.

Synergy has also announced a 500MW, 2000MWh battery planned by Synergy in Collie – and will submit a planning application later this year – and a second  500MW, 2000MWh battery in the region as the state prepares to shut down the last of the state-owned coal generators by the end of the decade.

“WA is unique in its energy security because we are not connected to other networks,” energy minister Bill Johnston said in a statement.

“Our energy management sets us apart from the rest of Australia. By investing in renewable energy and battery storage solutions, this government is safe-guarding the long-term resilience and flexibility of our electricity network.”

Built on the site of the former coal-fired Kwinana Power Station, the first stage of the Kwinana Battery was switched on in June. It was built by NHOA Energy, using CATL technology.

This second grid-scale battery energy storage system is backed by $625 million from the Western Australian state government and will consist of 288 shipping container-sized battery modules and 72 inverter units.

The project is expected to be completed by late 2024, during which time more than 160 jobs will be created for construction.

“My government is getting on with delivering our plan for cleaner, reliable and affordable energy for Western Australia,” said Roger Cook, premier of Western Australia.

“The start of construction for WA’s second grid-scale battery energy storage system is an important milestone in WA’s energy transformation. WA is a leader in the uptake of residential solar energy, and these big batteries help to ensure our energy system remains reliable as we transition away from coal-fired power.

“It is particularly fitting that we’re building the infrastructure of future at the site of the old Kwinana Power Station – keeping the Kwinana industrial strip front and centre as our energy system transitions to a new future.”

The former Kwinana Power Station was originally commissioned in 1970 and consisted of a mixture of turbines driven by steam from boilers fired by coal, natural gas, or fuel oil, as well as a 20MW gas turbine.

See RenewEconomy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia