The Waratah Super Battery is on track to be operational by August next year after getting the technical green light from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
The AEMO has granted Generator Performance Standard (GPS) approval for the super battery, located at the former Munmorah Power Station site on Scenic Dr, Colongra.
This is another important milestone as the Critical State Significant Infrastructure project moves steadily towards completion.
It marks the first approval for such a large battery energy storage project, paving the way for other super batteries in Australia’s National Electricity Market.
GPS approval represents a pivotal and complex milestone for any generation project in Australia.
It sets the performance standards that generators and storage projects must meet to ensure stability and reliability of the electrical grid.
Compliance with these standards helps prevent disruptions and ensures smooth integration into existing energy infrastructure.
The successful GPS approval for the Waratah Super Battery eliminates one of the most substantial technical barriers for the project, allowing it to participate in the growing energy storage market in Australia.
Executive Director Network Planning and Technical Advisory at EnergyCo Andrew Kingsmill said the approval demonstrated that the project had passed the simulations needed to know that it could successfully connect to the grid later this year.
Akaysha Energy CEO Nick Carter said it was the result of more than 12 months’ worth of hard effort by the team, AEMO, Transgrid and consultants Aurecon.
“We appreciate the collaboration with Energy and Powin,” he said.
“Their commitment to providing local on-ground support in Australia, advanced technology and willingness to work closely with our interconnection partners was critical in securing GPS approval and achieving closure within the required timeframes.
“Connecting energy projects to the Australian grid poses unique challenges due to stringent interconnection standards resulting from a combination of an inherently weak electrical grid, strict performance requirements and high renewable energy penetration.
“The significance is that we now have a clear pathway to get the battery connected.”
There are lots of warm and fuzzy upmarket words in that write up. But, unless I missed something, if the power goes off on the Central Coast, does the battery kick in automatically and how long for??