Oil giant Shell and Eku Energy, the battery storage offshoot of Macquarie Group, say they have started early, or “pre-construction”, works on the Rangebank big battery on the outskirts of Melbourne.
The 200MW/400MWh Rangebank Battery Energy Storage System is to be built within the business park of the same name in Cranbourne in Melbourne’s east.
It will be complete in late 2024, and will be one of the largest batteries in the state. It will provide essential grid services as well as allowing the grid to accommodate more renewable energy power.
An official “sod turning ceremony” was attended by state energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio, who said such batteries were crucial for the state to reach its target of at least 2.6GW of storage capacity by 2030, and at least 6.3GW by 2035.
D’Ambrosio recently formally opened the Hazelwood battery, developed by Eku Energy and Engie, at the site of the former Hazelwood brown coal generator that was closed by Engie in 2017. It is the first big battery to be completed at the site of a former coal fired generator in Australia, although many will follow.
The Rangebank battery is being jointly developed by Eku Energy and Shell Energy, with Perfection Private  – which developed the industrial estate – holding a small minority stake.
“As our second grid-scale battery under construction in Victoria, Eku Energy will continue to apply our deep understanding of electricity markets in delivering important battery storage solutions across the National Electricity Market,” said Daniel Burrows, the head of Asia Pacific and chief investment officer at Eku.
Eku Energy is also building the 250MW/500MWh Big Canberra Battery in Williamsdale in the ACT and has recently announced a string of battery storage projects in the UKÂ and Italy.
Shell Energy Australia CEO Greg Joiner said grid-scale batteries will play a crucial role in Australia’s energy future as more renewables are integrated into the grid.
The Rangebank BESS will be built, serviced, and maintained by Fluence, which also built the Hazelwood battery.
See RenewEconomy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia
