GE to supply 100MW/300MWh battery for Solar River Project in Australia

GE Renewable Energy has bagged a contract to deliver and integrate the 100MW/300MWh Reservoir energy storage system at the 200MW Solar River project in South Australia.

The Solar River project will be equipped with 640,000 plus solar panels and the three hours battery storage system, which can transfer up to 400MWh of electricity per day.

Jason May – CEO of the Solar River Project said: “The award of the battery to General Electric is another major milestone for the project. General Electric is a world leader in renewable energy storage technology, and we are very excited to have them on board. General Electric brings cutting-edge technology to South Australia, by delivering huge energy transfer capacity with an intelligent operating system”.

The Solar River Project, which is claimed to be one of the largest grid-scale hybrid renewable projects in the world, is located in the Mid North between Burra and Morgan. The hybrid solar power project is expected to meet the power consumption needs of 90,000 homes.

GE to integrate its Reservoir energy storage system with the Solar River Project. Photo courtesy of GENERAL ELECTRIC.

According to GE, the Reservoir battery energy storage system will help the South Australia Electricity Grid to deliver a firm and stable generation in the future.

The Reservoir energy storage system captures solar power, which can be used in the time of peak demand, which in turn increases the availability of the Solar River project and enable efficient use of the solar PVs.

Prakash Chandra – GE Renewable Energy Renewable Hybrids CEO said: “The Solar River Project will be a flagship for the renewable energy industry and for GE’s role in building out Renewable Hybrid plants.

“Hybrid solutions have become a reality, driven by the demand for reliable and dispatchable renewable energy, which we can integrate using our proprietary controls technology to optimize asset and customer outcomes. We are proud to have been selected by Solar River to deliver this very important project that will benefit a large community in this part of the world.”

In June 2018, the Solar River Project secured Crown Development Approval. Stage 1 of the Solar River Project is expected to generate its first power in early 2021.