Construction starts on new South Australian big battery being added to solar and storage park

Singapore-based renewable energy developer Vena Energy says it has broken ground on a new 204-megawatt (MW)/408-megawatt-hour (MWh) big battery that is being built next to its existing solar and battery park in South Australia.

Vena Energy, part of the broader Blackrock group, says the new Tailem Bend 3 battery will be completed in 2027, becoming one of the biggest battery projects in the state with the highest share of renewables (75 per cent wind and solar over the last 12 months).

The new battery is the third phase of the company’s Tailem Bend energy precinct, which already includes the 95 MW Tailem Bend solar farm – completed in 2019 – and the 87 MW Tailem Bend 2 solar farm and its adjoining – but separately connected 41.5 MW, 41.5 MWh battery.

Vena built the first heavily delayed first Tailem Bend battery at the site using Doosan technology, but has chosen to go with Canadian Solar e-Storage technology this time round.

“The Tailem Bend 3 BESS represents a significant milestone in Vena Energy’s growth strategy and a major expansion of our energy storage capabilities,” said Owen Sela, head of Australia at Vena Energy.

“This 408 MWh system adds substantial storage capacity that will support South Australia’s world-leading renewable energy adoption, while aligning with our commitment to developing utility-scale renewable energy and storage assets that contribute to Australia’s clean energy transition.”

It will be separately connected to the rest of the facility, so it won’t act as a pure solar-battery hybrid, despite Tailem Bend, like the other solar farms in South Australia, suffering heavy levels of curtailment because of the dominance of rooftop solar.

Renew Economy understands it will operate on a merchant model, at least at first although it is likely to seek long term contract opportunities which could be in place before it begins operations. The first stage of the solar farm is contracted to local business groups, while the second stage is contacted to Snowy Hydro.

The first Tailem Bend solar farm was the second big solar project in South Australia, after the 220 MW Bungala solar farms near Port Augusta. Those facilities are also heavily curtailed, and Bungala’s joint owners Potentia Energy are considering a big battery at that site too.

Tailem Bend will be the third energy storage project for Vena Energy in Australia, following a 100 MW, 150 MWh big battery at Wandoan South in Queensland, also built with Doosan technology.

Vena Energy has an Australian development pipeline of 6-gigawatts (GW), with 732 MW of renewable energy projects and 600 MWh of battery storage capacity in various stages of operation, construction, or under contract.

See also Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia

If you wish to support independent media, and accurate information, please consider making a one off donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy. Please click here. Your support is invaluable.