French renewable energy company Neoen has secured a support agreement with the Victorian Labor state government that will see it provide an integrated wind farm and battery storage facility, the Bulgana Green Power Hub (BGPH).
The project includes construction of a 204.4 megawatt (MW) wind farm with Siemens-Gamesa wind turbines and a 20MW/34MWh lithium-ion battery provided by Tesla in Stawell, regional Victoria.
The battery is dedicated to maintaining stable supply to a second major infrastructure project, Nectar Farms’ glasshouse facility, which is around 40 hectares in size.
The glasshouse facility would only be able to be progressed with the availability of the affordable and reliable power supply from BGPH.
Once complete, Nectar Farms will take up to 15 per cent of the energy from the BGPH, with the other 85 per cent going into the local grid.
The farm would not have proceeded without the renewable energy project and battery, together costing more than $270 million, Neoen said.
The support is a testament to the Victorian state government’s commitment to meet its Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET), emissions reduction pledge and to assist regional economies.
The Labor government policies have been implemented to ensure that 25 per cent of electricity generated in the state comes from renewable energy by 2020 and regional economies are supported.
Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez said the company is committed to boosting the local economy and facilitating renewable integrations.
“This is a major step forward for communities, businesses and the renewable energy industry, and it concludes a year of great achievements for Neoen,” Mr Woitiez said.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, said this an exciting initiative delivering a better future for Victoria.
“We’re delivering affordable, secure and clean energy, which is powering new jobs right across our state,” she said.
“This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while helping meet Victoria’s renewable energy generation targets.”
The Victorian initiative follows on from the installation in neighbouring South Australia of the world’s largest battery storage facility, also supplied by Tesla and jointly owned by Neoen.
The100-megawatt battery supplied by Tesla is already providing support for the grid in South Australia.
While having a capacity to supply only about 30,000 homes for an hour, the battery also provides other grid services, as it did on hundreds of occasions in December alone, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
