Queensland’s government-owned energy business network will launch a large-scale grid-connected battery storage trial at five locations to leverage the state’s high uptake of rooftop solar.
Network-connected batteries will be installed in Energy Queensland-owned sites in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Townsville, Yeppoon and Toowoomba with a view to deploying batteries state-wide.
Together, the batteries will store up to 40MWh, enabling excess renewable energy generated by rooftop solar systems during the day to be stored for distribution into the market in high-use periods.
“This will mean using this huge source of renewable energy in a smarter way,” energy minister Mick de Brenni said.
“In the medium term, this technology means we can ‘bank’ the excess renewable energy generated allowing a continued growth in rooftop solar on the way to achieving Queensland’s renewable energy target.”
He said Energy Queensland already has a proven delivery model for network-connected batteries, having installed a 4MWh/8MWh Tesla battery at Bohle Plains in Townsville.
Queensland has one of the highest levels of rooftop solar uptake in the world, according to the state government, with one in three detached houses now having solar PV on the roof.
Renewables currently make up 20 per cent of Queensland’s energy mix and the government aims to achieve 50 per cent by 2030.
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