Batteries provided by Samsung have been chosen for the second big battery storage project in South Australia, a 30MW/8MWh facility to be built on Yorke Peninsula that will work with a local wind farm and rooftop solar to create a renewable energy micro-grid.

The contract was awarded this week by transmission company ElectraNet to the Adelaide-based Consolidated Power Projects, that will work with international energy firm ABB and Samsung to deliver the project.

The 30MW/8MWh installation will be installed next to the Dalrymple sub-station and near the 90MW wattle Point wind farm owned by AGL Energy. It will cost $30 million with ARENA contributing up to $12 million.

Its main function will be to provide fast frequency response services in case of a fault, but it will also be able to provide back-up power in the event of a blackout, effectively creating a renewable energy based micro-grid, which AGL boss Andy Vesey said last year was the best way to ensure reliable supply.

ElectraNet agrees.

“The South Australian energy mix and landscape has significantly changed in recent years and this project will help the State to adapt to this change,” CEO Steve Masters.

“The battery will demonstrate how energy storage can strengthen the grid and improve reliability for the lower Yorke Peninsula.

“It will work with AGL’s existing 90 MW Wattle Point Wind Farm and rooftop solar PV to provide back-up power in the event of any interruption to supply from the grid until the grid is restored. These learnings will be applicable in the future to other potential grid locations.

“In addition, the fast frequency response of the battery will improve power system security across the state by quickly injecting power into the grid following a disturbance.”

The battery system is expected to be operating by May next year, and is one of a number of large scale batteries being built in South Australia and elsewhere on the grid.

Last week, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk revealed that the 100MW/129MWh “big battery” next to the Hornsdale wind farm was half complete, and will be ready to operate by December 1, as agreed with the South Australia government.

The Victoria government is also due to announce the results of a tender for two battery storage units, each of 20MW with total storage of more than 100MWh, and a further battery storage unit is planned to accompany a wind farm and hill power Nectar Farms’ new giant greenhouse near Stawell in that state.