Saudi-owned FRV switches on its first solar/battery hybrid project in Australia

Saudi-owned Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has switched on its solar/battery hybrid project in Dalby, Queensland, and one of the first true “hybrid” projects in Australia. 

FRV first proposed the 2.45 megawatt (MW) solar farm and 2.54 MW/5MWh battery in 2021, taking advantage of a proposed rule change at the time which allowed different renewable energy generators and batteries to share a grid connection point.

Before the changes, it wasn’t possible to build renewables projects in stages or to share dedicated connection assets between projects or stages.

The single connection point created obstacles when multiple generators wanted to share assets, because they had to agree on one set of technical performance standards, a joint bidding strategy, and share one transmission loss factor.

The Dalby project, albeit small, can supply 1,680 households with power and is now commercially operational.

“Dalby’s connection into the grid is another great milestone for FRV Australia. As our first Australian hybrid project, we look forward to leveraging the learnings to continue to grow our Australian portfolio and continue to support the transition of the Australian energy system,” says Christopher Curtain, a local director with Canadian fund OMERS which part owns FRV.

FRV owns eight operational solar farms in Australia, one under construction and one at the power purchase agreement stage, the 96 MW Ravenswood project which is intended to be the company’s second hybrid solar and battery in the country.