The British energy company Shell has signed an agreement to install a massive battery system with a capacity of up to 200 MW in Australia.
Simulation of the 200 MW mega battery project in Rangebank, Australia. (Photo: Shell)
According to a press release issued on March 31, Shell will collaborate with the Green Investment Group and Macquarie Asset Management to install a “mega battery” at the Rangebank commercial area in Cranbourne, Victoria, located in southeastern Australia.
This 200 MW battery system can consume up to 400 MWh of electricity and has sufficient storage capacity to power 80,000 households across Victoria during peak hours. The project, valued at $300 – $400 million, is expected to be completed by 2024.
“The Rangebank project is our first utility-scale battery investment in Victoria,” emphasized Greg Joiner, CEO of Shell Energy Australia.
Once operational, the new battery system is expected to ensure the stable operation of Australia’s power grid and enhance the renewable energy storage capacity of Victoria.
Joiner predicts that the trend towards clean energy transition will accelerate in the future, and Shell plans to build an additional massive battery system of similar scale in Australia each year.
Large batteries will become increasingly important as Australia moves towards phasing out fossil fuels. They help store excess renewable energy and release electricity during low-wind or cloudy periods.
