Pacific Green has secured planning consent from the South Australian government for its inaugural grid-scale battery energy parks in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia.
The investment marked a significant step in the South Australian energy storage sector, providing a greater energy supply and demonstrating collaboration with the local workforce throughout the construction phase.
Over the next 36 months, the Limestone Coast Energy Park will be developed and constructed in two phases, consisting of a 0.5GW / 1.5GWh battery energy storage system.
Construction is set to commence towards the end of this year following extensive stakeholder and community consultation to minimise local impacts.
South Australia’s minister for Energy and Mining, Tom Koutsantonis, emphasised the role of private investment in bolstering grid stability and expanding renewable energy capacity across the region.
“It’s encouraging to see more private sector investment in energy storage. An increase in storage will provide greater capacity at peak times, extending the availability of electricity generated by cheap renewables. It’s also particularly pleasing that Pacific Green has chosen the South East of South Australia for its project; greater diversity of storage locations will strengthen our security of supply and reliability,” said Koutsantonis.
In securing this consent, Pacific Green undertook a rigorous approval process, engaging independent specialists to assess environmental, technical, and heritage aspects.
“We are pleased to begin our first development at Limestone Coast in South Australia. With so much local and Government support, this milestone announcement will be one of many to come over the next years as we build out our 8.5GWh pipeline across Australia,” said Pacific Green chairman and group CEO, Scott Poulter.
As Australia’s renewable energy market rapidly expands, ensuring growth in battery energy storage is essential to support the grid network’s increasing capacity for renewable generation.
