PICESS battery goes live

THE battery at Phillip Island which can power 8000 homes and secure energy supply for the tourist hot spot during peak periods has been switched on. 

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio MP and AusNet Chief Executive Officer Tony Narvaez officially opened the $10 million Phillip Island Community Energy Storage System (PICESS) on

Saturday morning before the community was bused in for a public Q & A. 

The battery will replace diesel generators previously used to provide back-up power to the region over summer to support peak demand. 

“Replacing generators with the big battery will stabilise electricity supply on the Island when it’s needed most,” said Mr Narvaez. 

“The population of Phillip Island more than quadruples over summer, which puts a strain on the local electricity network, and at times, leads to power dropping out. This battery, which in time will be powered by renewable energy, will help solve this issue.” 

The Hitachi 5MW/10MWh lithium-ion phosphate battery energy system has the capacity to power more than 8,000 homes for two hours or 700 homes for a day. It is located within a 38m x 34m fenced high voltage compound and is connected to the electricity grid via underground cables.

The community were invited to question the project and how it can help residents with power outages in the future. 

AusNet operation team confirmed the inverters were designed for prospects including a grid forming system. 

The community feedback too questioned the concern for the monitoring of the system to ensure its safe, with the AusNet operation team clarifying that the system will be monitored on a 24/7 basis and was designed in individual cabinet racks with a built-in liquid cooling system – ‘so if something was to go wrong, the individual cabinet will respond and avoid further spread of fire etc.’ 

The AusNet operational team described the ‘big battery’ as a pool, it will generate to the grid and therefore produce enough to have a sustainable source for the peak periods. However, at this point it isn’t enough to solve a power outage issue on Phillip Island. 

 “Twenty-five local jobs were created in the region during construction, with the project providing Phillip Island residents with new energy job opportunities,” said Mr Narvaez. 

Totally Renewable Phillip Island (TRPI) and the Energy Innovation Cooperative (EI Coop) have worked closely with AusNet, Mondo, and the Bass Coast Shire Council to deliver the battery. 

For more information: www.ausnetservices.com.au/PICESS