The NSW Government has given planning approval for the Waratah Super Battery—the largest committed battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Southern Hemisphere.
Transgrid executive general manager of network Marie Jordan joined Energy Minister Matt Kean at the former Munmorah coal-fired power station site to announce planning approval for the construction of the Waratah Super Battery.
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Jordan said Transgrid was playing a crucial role in upgrading the electricity network, developing a protection scheme and connecting the super battery to ensure energy security following the anticipated closure of Eraring coal-fired power station.
“We are getting on with the job of delivering this critical infrastructure to ensure a secure, reliable and affordable energy supply to homes and businesses in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong while new renewable energy zones and transmission connections are completed,” she said.
“The NSW Government gave a vote of confidence in Transgrid when the Minister formally directed us to carry out the Waratah Super Battery Priority Transmission Infrastructure Project last year.
“Transgrid is connecting the Waratah Super Battery to the grid via its existing Munmorah substation ensuring additional energy is located near the high-growth Lake Macquarie and Central Coast regions.
“As part of the project we are carrying out major upgrades to existing transmission lines and substations to enable additional energy to be delivered to consumers.
“We will also develop and operate a $30 million System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) to control the standby network battery’s activation when additional energy is required, ensuring it can respond almost instantly to any disruptions in the power system.
“Transgrid is on track to ensure the super battery, SIPS control and network upgrades are completed by mid-2025 in advance of Eraring’s earliest closure date.
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“We are pleased to partner with EnergyCo, battery service provider Akaysha Energy and existing and future generation facilities to deliver this vital project to ensure energy security for NSW and help our state become a global leader in the energy transition.”
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) identified the Waratah Super Battery as a key project to strengthen reliability forecasts in its update to the 2022 Electricity Statement of Opportunities report released this week.
