Engie & Partners Commission 150 MW Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System

Engie, the French energy company, along with project partners Eku Energy and Fluence, has successfully commissioned the Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia. This pioneering project, with a capacity of 150MW/150MWh, is the first of its kind in the country to be situated on the grounds of a decommissioned coal-fired power station. It marks a significant milestone in the transition of former thermal assets towards renewable energy, maintains the firm.

Engie and Eku Energy have secured the necessary funding for the project, while Fluence, an energy storage solutions provider, serving as the supplier and operator of the facility. Further, Fluence will be responsible for the maintenance services required to ensure the smooth operation of the BESS.

Overview

The Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (HBESS) is a utility-scale battery with a capacity of 150 MW and 150 MWh. Its primary objective is to enhance the stability of Victoria’s electricity grid. With the capability to store the energy equivalent of an hour’s worth of energy generated by 30,000 Victorian homes’ rooftop solar systems, it plays a critical role in augmenting the state’s energy capacity and ensuring grid stability.

Located at the former Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley, this battery project is part of ENGIE’s commitment to repurposing the site, which has been undergoing rehabilitation since 2017. The innovative design of the battery, coupled with the unique location of the site, offers the flexibility to rapidly and cost-effectively expand the storage capacity in response to network and market demands. This adaptability ensures that the system can effectively meet the evolving needs of the energy sector.

First of its Kind

Built in the 1960s, the Hazelwood power station was closed in 2017 after 50 years of service. Rehabilitation services began soon after the power station was closed. The 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood BESS is now the country’s largest privately funded utility-scale battery and the first coal-to-clean energy transformation project.

Further, it is the first project in Australia to use Gridstack battery energy storage product. The battery is built using Fluence’s latest-generation Gridstack technology platform – made of 342 modular, standardised factory-built Fluence Cubes.

Australia has made a slew of announcements with regards to BESS projects. Some of these large-scale projects entail The Big Canberra Battery project, 200MW / 400MWh Rangebank BESS, which will have storage capacity to power 80,000 homes across Victoria for an hour during peak periods, among others.