The old Lake Munmorah Power Station site has been officially named as the location for the new Waratah Super Battery, which is set to help secure the state’s clean energy future and be operational by 2025.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy, Matt Kean, said the battery will act as a “shock absorber” for the electricity grid.
“The Waratah Super Battery will be the biggest network battery anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere, providing at least 700MW of standby network capacity to the grid,” Kean said.
“Lake Munmorah has a long history in energy generation, with the now demolished power station helping to power the state for over 40 years.
“I’m thrilled that we are announcing the return of more energy capacity to the area.
“The Waratah Super Battery will drive up to $1B in private investment in new energy storage and associated network upgrades, generating more than 100 jobs in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.”
Kean said the battery will ensure electricity consumers in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have access to more energy from existing generators while new transmission connections are developed.
Transgrid has been appointed the network operator and the project was granted Critical State Significant Infrastructure status earlier this year.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2023, pending approval, and to be completed by mid-2025 in advance of the closure of Eraring Power Station.
The Coast’s labor MPs, who have been pushing Lake Munmorah as the ideal site for the battery for months, said the announcement was a big win for the Coast.
“The battery will help shore up the region’s energy supply and take advantage of the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.”
central coast labor mps
“The Renewable Energy Zone was established after Labor successfully moved amendments to the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020.”
Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley, said it made perfect sense to locate the battery at the old power station site.
“It is owned by the Government and all the transmission infrastructure is already in place,” she said.
“‘Not only will this project deliver up to 150 construction jobs during its development and 10 to 15 ongoing jobs, but it will also open up an opportunity to turn the old power station into a renewable energy manufacturing hub on the Central Coast.
“This will mean good paying, highly skilled jobs into the future.”
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris, said Labor MPs fought hard for the Central Coast to be included in the Renewable Energy Zones, understanding that power generation has been a part of the region’s heritage.
“As transition takes place we should continue to have an important role into the future,” he said.
“Skills and knowhow is in abundance and the Coast is well placed to ride the transition wave to renewables.”
Member for the Entrance, David Mehan, said the announcement ensures a continuation of energy jobs on the Central Coast into the future.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said the Coast community is being smashed by cost of living pressures.
“It is very clear we need alternative energy solutions,” she said.
“Locating the battery close to home, where existing energy infrastructure is already in place, is huge win for the Coast.”
Source:
Media releases, Oct 14
NSW Government and Central Coast Labor MPs