Tilt Renewables, an Australian renewable energy company, has officially initiated the construction of a 100-MW/200-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the state of Victoria. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Latrobe Valley BESS took place on Friday, attended by company officials and Lily D'Ambrosio, Victoria's Minister for Energy and Resources.
The energy storage facility will be situated near the town of Morwell, in the Gippsland area of southeastern Victoria, and will feature the Fluence Gridstack solution. Under a 20-year contract, the project will be constructed and serviced by Fluence, a US-based energy storage solutions provider.
The Latrobe Valley BESS represents the initial phase of a larger 200-MW/400-MWh battery complex, heralded as Australia's first privately-funded energy storage scheme, with an estimated value of AUD 243 million (USD 160 million / EUR 148.5 million). Located adjacent to an existing terminal station, the system aims to enhance the reliability of the electricity network by storing power for utilization during peak periods.
The first stage of the facility is scheduled to be connected to the grid by December 2024, with full operational status anticipated in early 2025, as confirmed by electricity transmission network operator AusNet in a separate announcement.
This development underscores the increasing emphasis on battery energy storage as a critical component of Australia's evolving energy landscape, contributing to grid stability and the integration of renewable energy sources.
