Trina seeks approval for 1 GWh battery project in Australia

Trina Solar has submitted a planning application for a grid-scale battery with the capacity to dispatch up to 500 MW of power over two hours. The project is being developed near the town of Dederang, in northeastern Victoria.

The proposed 500 MW/1 GWh Kiewa Valley BESS is planned for a 10-hectare site around 1.7 km southwest of the Dederang terminal station, where the battery can be integrated into the grid via existing electricity transmission line infrastructure.

Trina said the project will enhance grid stability and resilience while facilitating the transition towards a cleaner, more efficient power ecosystem.

Jose Flores, head of Trina’s International System Business Unit (Trina ISBU) in Australia – which is responsible for the development of the Kiewa Valley battery – said the project is gaining momentum and a decision on the planning application is expected by early 2025.

“We are very excited about the ongoing progress and support for this project,” said Flores. “The project is well advanced in discussions with AEMO [the Australian Energy Market Operator] and [utility] AusNet regarding connecting to the grid.”

The Kiewa Valley battery is one of three energy storage projects being developed by Trina in Australia. The company is also developing the 660 MW/2.64 GWh Kemerton project, in Western Australia, and the 270 MW/540 MWh Augusta battery, near Port Paterson in South Australia.

Trina’s battery projects form part of an ambition to deliver more than 6.5 GW of clean energy generation and storage projects across the country by 2027.

Victoria is targeting 2.6 GW of large-scale energy storage by 2030 and at least 6.3 GW by 2035 as part of its clean energy transition.

From pv magazine Australia.