The State Electricity Commission (SEC) and the Victorian Government have kicked off construction on one of the world’s biggest renewable energy storage batteries.
Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, and Victorian Minister for the State Electricity Commission, Lily D’Ambrosio, visited the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub – a 600MW big battery that will store enough energy to power up to 200,000 homes during peak periods.
“We’re building for our future – and the SEC is unlocking more renewable and affordable energy for Victorians with one of the biggest batteries in the world,” Ms Allan said.
Construction of the battery is now underway in Melbourne’s west, with the first of 444 Tesla Megapack battery components being installed and the SEC’s first project on track to be operational in 2025. Once completed, the hub will have three battery components providing 1.6GW/h of energy storage.
Since work on the project began in late 2023, more than 530 people – including apprentices and cadets – have completed earthworks and other critical infrastructure to prepare the site for installation of the batteries.
In 2025, the Hub will start storing excess rooftop solar and surplus energy from the grid, providing extra power at peak times to meet Victoria’s growing demand. It will be connected to three renewable energy zones allowing more energy to connect to the grid – helping to accelerate the energy transition and drive down energy bills.
“The SEC’s big battery will deliver 23 per cent of Victoria’s 2030 storage capacity target – with large amounts of solar and wind coming online, batteries will be able to suck it up and dispatch it when needed,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
More than 15,000t of rock has been extracted and will be reused to build a barrier around the site, landscaped with native vegetation.
The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub is the first project from the SEC’s initial $1 billion investment and is co-owned with renewable energy investor Equis Australia. This project will help deliver the SEC’s target of 4.5GW of new renewable energy generation and storage projects.
Building renewable energy storage capacity is key to an affordable and reliable energy supply as Victoria transitions to 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035.
Member for Sydenham, Natalie Hutchins, said, “This project not only creates jobs and opportunities for Victorians in the western suburbs, but it is also critical to increasing Victoria’s renewable storage capacity.”
Featured image: SEC.
