Flow Power reaches financial close on its first stand-alone big battery, in Victorian coal country

Australia renewables gentailer Flow Power has reached financial close on its first “battery only” project – and its largest project of any sort, to date – the Bennett’s Creek Battery in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley.

Flow says FID on the 100 megawatt (MW) and 223 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) was provided by Westpac and SMBC Australia and supported by its majority shareholder, OPTrust.

Construction will now begin on the BESS at its location in Hazelwood North, near the site of the now demolished Hazelwood coal plant. Finnish energy storage giant Wärtsilä will supply the battery hardware and software, while Zenviron will provide balance-of-plant design, construction, installation and commissioning.

Flow said on Monday that the Bennett’s Creek BESS is part of its strategy to pair long-term solar and wind power purchase agreements with large-scale storage so it can supply more homes and businesses with a firmed renewable supply.

“With projects such as Bennetts Creek adding large‑scale storage to Flow Power’s renewable portfolio, the company is able to underwrite and expand innovative retail offerings that reward customers for supporting the grid at critical times,” the company says.

These include the “Flow Home” product, which offers an up to 45c/kWh feed‑in tariff between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm, paying a premium when exports are most valuable.

“Bennetts Creek is our 11th project to date, and first large-scale stand-alone battery,” said Flow CFO and COO, Byron Serjeantson. “It represents a significant milestone for Flow Power and demonstration of the strong capabilities of our team.”

“Once operational, the Project will help us provide more homes and businesses with access to innovative, firmed renewable energy products, as well as strengthen our growing project portfolio across the National Electricity Market.”

Flow says it will work with local stakeholders to design and deliver community benefit initiatives for the battery, committing up to $100,000 over its first five years. Construction of the battery is expected to be completed in 2028.

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

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