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Category: Alternative Energy / Environment / Electricity Energy and Utilities / States and Territories / Federal - State Issues / Government and Politics

SA renewables company could beat Tesla and Elon Musk to it

Wednesday, 15 Mar 2017 03:59:07

Zen Energy says it will be ready to go by next summer. (Reuters: Jean-Paul Pelissier)

Tesla boss Elon Musk grabbed headlines with his pitch to solve South Australia's energy crisis by building a battery storage farm.

However, far from Silicon Valley there are a string of other companies waiting in the wings — and South Australian-based renewable energy company Zen Energy could beat Mr Musk to it.

As part of a grand plan to solve South Australia's electricity woes, the State Government wants to entice the private sector into building Australia's largest energy storage battery by next summer.

It's offering up $150 million to subsidise 100 megawatts of storage.

Zen Energy has already been developing plans for a $100 million solar plant with 100 megawatts of battery storage, based in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

Chairman Ross Garnaut said the Government's intention brought its plan closer to fruition.

"The Government says it wants it in place by next summer and we're ready to put it in place by next summer," Professor Garnaut said.

"And if we're to avoid a repeat of the instability we had in the past summer, we need it in place before December.

"We can store our battery in less than three months, but that's not all you have to do, there's a lot more.

"That means the Government process will have to be a short one or there just won't be time."

Zen Energy will still need to compete for the Government tender — it's likely several companies have their eyes on it.

Zen Energy focussing on struggling region

Professor Garnaut said his company's proposal would create hundreds of jobs during construction, in a region struggling with economic hardship.

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"The main centre of the battery will be at Port Augusta," Professor Garnaut said.

"We'll have large scale solar in Whyalla and Port Pirie."

Zen Energy has already claimed its plan could "solve most" of the state's energy woes, but benefit the entire national grid.

"The battery in a way is the simplest part of the system," Professor Garnaut said.

"You've got a control system that governs the interaction of the battery with the grid, with the incoming renewable energy.

"We look forward to the time that the culmination of our work contributes to South Australia being a low-energy cost state in Australia.

"And in a world in which the whole world is moving towards high renewables."

AustraliaPlus


 

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