The Williamsdale battery will deliver 250MW of storage.
23 July 2024
The ACT Government has reached a major milestone in its work to future-proof Canberra’s energy supply.
The development application has been approved to deliver Stream 1 of the project – a grid-scale battery in Williamsdale.
This ACT Government has partnered with Eku Energy on this project. Construction will begin later this year.
The Big Canberra Battery will be capable of delivering 250 MW of power – more than a third of Canberra’s peak electricity demand. It will be able to deliver this power for two hours.
The Big Canberra Battery will have 500 MWh of capacity, which on a single charge could supply 23,400 households with their daily energy use.
Approximately 180–200 jobs will also be created through the project.
More batteries for Canberra
The Government has also finalised the installation of batteries at nine government sites in the ACT as part of its work on Stream 2 of the project.
The sites include:
- Belconnen Parks Depot
- Gungahlin Family and Child Centre
- Allara Depot
- Kambah Depot
- Ron Reynolds Centre
- Chifley Community Hub
- Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
- Cotter Depot
- Greenway Ambulance Station.
The batteries capture energy generated from rooftop solar panels. This will help power the sites and will reduce government spend on electricity, benefitting the broader network during peak electricity consumption times.
Two further batteries will be installed at Mount Stromlo High School and 255 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick in early 2025.
The ACT Government has also partnered with the Commonwealth Government and Evoenergy through the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program.
Through this, three medium-sized neighbourhood-scale batteries will be installed in Casey, Dickson and Fadden.
A battery operator will be selected in late 2024 following a procurement process.
The Big Canberra Battery project will provide renewable energy security across the electricity grid.
It will help grow the ACT’s renewable energy sector, provide more local employment opportunities, and deliver a positive financial return for the territory.
Building a cleaner future
Battery storage technology is a critical component of the ACT’s net-zero emissions future.
The ACT has delivered 100 per cent renewable electricity since 2020.
Initiatives like this build on that achievement and demonstrate the viability of renewable energy in supporting a robust, affordable and sustainable energy grid.
Find out more about the Big Canberra Battery Project and other ways Canberra is leading the way on climate action by visiting climatechoices.act.gov.au
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