Solar radiation is the source of renewable energy our children and their children will depend on in future. Sun’s energy keeps our planet warm, and drives the daily wind that brings our rain. But solar radiation falls away at night as our earth rotates on its axis. Therefore we will need multi-gigawatt battery projects to carry us through until the morning.
Multi-Gigawatt Battery Projects No Longer a Dream
A decade ago most folk might have said ‘that’s ridiculous’, if we mentioned multi-gigawatt battery projects in civil society. But that was before lithium-ion batteries barn-stormed the energy industry, and global warming really began to bite.
Australia is one of the pack leaders of renewable energy, thanks to its abundant sunshine. This was after a 2016 power blackout was a wake-up call to government. Now a giant new gigawatt storage project in southeast Australia is taking shape according to Renew Economy:
- The scheme will combine four by 250 MW batteries of varying storage capacities into a 1 GW, 2.5 GWh super battery.
- Each of the four 250MW sub-batteries will develop separately, with own connection points as standalone projects.
- Three of the four sub-batteries will have two hours of energy storage duration @ 250MW / 500MWh
- The fourth battery will contribute not two, but four hours of energy storage duration @ 250MW / 1,000MWh.
- The set of four batteries will connect to a 500 kV transmission line via a 500 / 33 kV collector, and a 500 kV terminal station.
This Will Provide Critical Support For Energy Supply
The Portland Energy Park initiative will strengthen regional energy supply, and stabilize prices by 2024 according to project leader Pacific Green. It will also lend support to a local energy-intensive aluminum smelter, and the Portland City water treatment plant.
We are definitely coming closer to multi-gigawatt battery projects, that will help reduce our reliance on fossil-based oil and coal. As citizens we can do our bit by pruning individual energy consumption, and contributing towards the goal of decarbonising our planet.
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Decarbonized Economy With Storage Batteries
