Works have commenced to deliver the Big Canberra Battery project, one of the largest battery storage systems in the southern hemisphere.
The Australian Capital Territory is already powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity, and this battery project is the next step in the Australian Capital Territory Government’s plan to reduce emissions and provide sustainable energy to Canberra households.
The Big Canberra Battery aims to help future proof the Territory’s energy supply by reducing the load on our electricity network, supporting more families to switch to reliable renewable energy sources to power their homes.
Once built, this ecosystem will be capable of powering around one third of the Australian Capital Territory.
The 2022-23 Australian Capital Territory Budget will invest in the project, which will be delivered in three streams.
Stream one will deliver 250MW of grid connected battery storage to support the electricity network.
Stream two will initially seek to deliver batteries at 14 government sites to help reduce power used in government buildings and reduce the strain on the distribution network.
The government sites are spread around the city, with batteries planned for sites in Fyshwick, Gungahlin, Belconnen, Chifley, Greenway, Kambah and Stromlo.
Stream three will deliver medium-sized neighbourhood batteries.
Procurement processes for streams one and two are currently being developed and will open to industry in August 2022.
The investments will allow the Australian Capital Territory Government to build on its commitments through the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement and will get the Australian Capital Territory closer to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.