A PROJECT billed as the largest proposed grid-scale battery in the world will be built at Kurri Kurri in NSW's Hunter Valley, specialist renewable energy fund CEP Energy has announced.
The 1200-megawatt project is slated for the Hunter Economic Zone and comes under a 30-year lease agreement the company has struck with the Hunter Investment Corporation.
The proposal comes less than a month after Origin Energy unveiled plans for a 700-megawatt battery at the Eraring power station, which was at the time billed as the nation's largest.
CEP says the project will be the largest of four batteries in a network across the country expected to have a total capacity of 2000 megawatts.
Chief executive Peter Wright said the company wanted to become the largest battery owner in Australian energy.
"CEP's grid-scale battery network is part of our dual-track strategy to generate and store clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity for Australian businesses, and make excess power available to the national grid to firm up the increase in renewable generation," he said.
'To achieve this, we have secured strategic locations with excellent access to existing network connection infrastructure.
'The HEZ site for our NSW battery is zoned for heavy industrial use, pre-approved for power generation and located adjacent to an Ausgrid sub-station. It is among the best handful of sites in Australia for reliable and efficient grid connection."
The company expects to open an expression of interest process to find a battery provider, with the project expected to be completed in stages beginning in early 2022.
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The company's chairman, former NSW premier Morris Iemma, said the state government's road map for clean energy had created certainty for private investment.
'Big batteries, including the one planned by CEP.Energy for the Hunter, will play a major role in filling the gaps left by the gradual retirement of coal and gas-fired generation assets, including the nearby Liddell power station,' Mr Iemma said.
'This project will help ensure the Hunter region of NSW remains true to its heritage as one of the nation's energy powerhouses as we work towards a cleaner, decarbonised future."
Hunter Economic Zone and Hunter Investment Corporation director Frank Cavassini said the project would enhance the area's green credentials.
"HEZ is delighted to be partnering with CEP.Energy to host Australia's largest grid-scale battery and to install rooftop solar panels on all proposed developments within HEZ, which will provide our tenants with clean, lower-cost energy," Mr Cavassini said.
Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
