
Two giant transformers have arrived for installation at the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH) in Victoria, marking a significant milestone for one of the largest grid-scale batteries in Australia. The 600MW battery, which is being developed by Lumea, part of Transgrid, will be able to store excess solar energy and release it during peak demand hours, helping to stabilize the grid and reduce energy prices.
The 335-tonne transformers are the final components required to connect the battery to the grid, allowing it to operate at higher voltage and ensure its storage capacity can be accessed when needed. With all 444 Tesla Megapacks in place, this 1.6 gigawatt-hour (GWh) project is the first major initiative from the State Electricity Commission's (SEC) $1 billion investment plan, aiming to deliver 4.5 gigawatts of renewable energy generation and storage in the state.
Scheduled to come online later this year, the battery will store excess solar power during the day and release it during the evening to meet demand. Once fully operational, the MREH is expected to contribute 1.8 gigawatts of new renewable energy to the Victorian grid.
In addition to the battery, a 500kV substation and the installation of a 1.75 km 500kV underground cable – the first of its kind in Australia – are also being constructed to connect the battery to the grid.
While the project continues to progress, the newly installed leader of the Victorian opposition, Brad Battin, has vowed to scrap the SEC if his party wins the next state election, criticizing the organization as ineffective and a political tool for the Labor government.
Despite this, the SEC is also advancing other renewable energy projects, including the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham, a $370 million investment set to power 51,000 homes and create hundreds of jobs in the state.
Soruce: reneweconomy.com