Waratah Super Battery now registered on the National Electricity Market
The Waratah Super Battery is now registered on the National Electricity Market (NEM) and one step closer to powering up.
This comes shortly after the energisation of the new Waratah Substation, which connects the 850 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system (BESS) to the grid.
These two major milestones pave the way for further testing and commissioning works necessary for the project to begin operation next year.
Akaysha Energy and its delivery partners Consolidated Power Projects, Transgrid, Powin and eks Energy completed the works under the planning and oversight of EnergyCo.
Meanwhile, the final battery units for the BESS have arrived at the Munmorah site and are being put in place for testing and commissioning. These units first began arriving on site in April this year.
The Waratah Super Battery project is critical for NSW’s energy security as our coal-fired power stations close.
It is designed to enhance grid reliability in the State by acting as a shock absorber in the event of sudden power surges from events like lightning strikes.
The broader project involves more than the BESS itself. It also includes paired generation services, upgrades to the State’s existing transmission network, and the development of an overarching control system.
“This is a huge step forward for the Waratah Super Battery project and our State’s transition to secure, reliable grid powered by renewables and storage,” said Lulu Shao, Director Power Systems at EnergyCo.
“Registering on the National Electricity Market is no easy feat, especially for the largest single dispatchable unit on the market and one of the largest grid-scale batteries in the world.”
“This milestone is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of Akaysha and Transgrid and their delivery partners.”
“We look forward to seeing further progress as the Waratah Super Battery undergoes more testing in the lead up to its big debut next year.”
Read Akaysha Energy’s update on the milestone here.
