<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/complex-and-innovative-compressed-air-energy-storage-project-cleared-to-support-blackout-prone-grid/>
"Plans to build a world-first renewable energy mini-grid in Broken Hill in New
South Wales have cleared another key milestone, securing grid connection
approval for a groundbreaking compressed air energy storage project.
The 200 megawatt (MW), up to eight hour (1,600 MWh) duration Silver City Energy
Storage project by Canadian outfit Hydrostor was this week given the tick of
approval by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), confirming it meets
the all-important Generator Performance Standards of the main grid.
Hydrostor said on Wednesday that the key approval for the compressed air
storage system, which will be housed in a cavern inside Perilya’s Potosi silver
mine, has followed a rigorous assessment process involving extensive modelling,
simulations and network studies.
“Grid connection approval is another significant step for Silver City and
reflects the considerable work that has gone into progressing a critical piece
of energy infrastructure for Broken Hill,” said Hydrostor country lead Martin
Becker.
“We are proud that this is now one of the most advanced long duration energy
storage projects available for New South Wales.”
Hydrostor describes its Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) as
similar to pumped hydro, delivering long duration storage using a proprietary
thermal management system and hard-rock air-storage caverns. Essentially, the
technology uses renewable energy to compress air and store it underground. When
electricity is needed, the air is released through a turbine.
Silver City was selected back in 2020 by network company Transgrid as the best
option to replace two ageing 25MW diesel-fuel fired generators currently used
to provide back-up electricity supply for Broken Hill, which is located at the
end of a long (260km) single line and prone to outages.
The technology is designed specifically to do what the 50MW/50MWh Broken Hill
battery couldn’t do during the two week blackout last year, when storms ripped
up transmission lines.
It will be the backbone of a mini-grid which will be able to connect to the 200
MW Silverton wind farm and the 53 MW Broken Hill solar farm during outages,
which the battery was originally deliberately not set up to do."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
