U.S.-based energy storage company, Powin will deliver a 1.9 GWh Battery Energy Storage System for BlackRock-owned Akaysha Energy to power the New South Wales (NSW) Waratah Super Battery (WSB) Project.
Back in October, Akaysha Energy was contracted by the Energy Corporation of NSW to develop the Waratah Super Battery to provide a service of at least 700 MW capacity as part of a System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS).
Powin announced that it would supply the equipment capable of 909MW of power and 1915MWh of energy capacity, making it the “most powerful battery in the world” when operational. Powin will provide 2,592 Centipede Energy Segments, while its EKS Energy subsidiary will deliver 288 power conversion systems for a total project capacity of 909MW/1915 MWh. The company will also provide a 20-year long-term service agreement (LTSA) which will enhance the reliability, efficiency, and availability of power supplied by the mega battery.
The BESS will act as a “shock absorber” for the electrical grid for system reliability purposes. In addition, this flagship SIPS project will unlock latent transfer capacity in the existing transmission system and help integrate renewable energy. The WSB project will ensure Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong have access to more energy from existing generators while reducing the risk of power disruptions.
The Waratah Super Battery is proposed to be located 100 kilometers north of Sydney at the old Munmorah Power Station, a 1400 MW coal-fired power plant serving Sydney, Australia, and beyond. Pending approval, construction is expected to start in 2023, with a targeted completion date in the middle of 2025.
“Powin’s proven ability to deploy energy storage systems at scale coupled with EKS Energy’s unrivaled power conversion system, plant controller, and systems engineering capabilities have made this an easy decision to select Powin as our technology partner,” said Nick Carter, Akaysha Energy’s Managing Director. “Together, Powin and EKS are one of few companies best positioned to meet the Australian grid operators’ high standards of performance as their vertically integrated platform combining the hardware and software controls allows for unparalleled response time and grid compliance.”
