Vector contracted to supply NT battery storage system

Auckland-based energy distribution company Vector has won a contract to supply the Territory Generation Alice Springs Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project.

Vector was one of a number of international firms bidding for the contract, which will see it supply Australasia’s largest grid-tied lithium-ion battery storage solution to stabilise and enhance generation on the Alice Springs electricity network. The project is timed to coincide with the shift from the ageing Ron Goodin Power Station to the upgraded Owen Springs Power Station at the end of 2017.

“We’re replacing aged electricity generators with the latest equipment to provide efficient and reliable power supply, drive down the cost of producing electricity and to support a transition to renewable energy,” explained Territory Generation CEO Tim Duignan.

The BESS will be used to provide improved power generation reliability for the region by assisting in smoothing the output of Territory Generation’s solar power during cloud cover events. Duignan noted that “without storage to smooth the solar output, there is limited opportunity to integrate further solar without impacting on grid stability”.

“Vector Energy’s comprehensive solution will integrate into our existing system and is one of the reasons we have chosen them. Ultimately it will assist in supporting the system to be able to increase the solar profile in Alice Springs,” he said.

Vector will be responsible for the design, engineering, construction and installation of the system and, once commissioned, will also be responsible for ongoing maintenance. Duignan added that the system “has the ability to augment the storage capacity with further batteries in the future, which is a game changer for the energy generation industry in the NT”.

The energy storage system is expected to be complete by late 2017. Modelling has determined that the total cost of the wider BESS project — $8.3 million — would be recouped within 4–5 years due to the efficiencies and savings realised.