Kangaroo valley BESS
Kangaroo Valley Battery Energy Storage system
Firm Power is proposing to develop a utility scale battery energy storage system (BESS) adjacent to the existing 330kV Kangaroo Valley Substation along Bendeela Road in Kangaroo Valley, NSW. The location is approximately 150 kilometres south of Sydney and 80 kilometres southwest of Wollongong.
When operational, the Kangaroo Valley BESS will help meet the current and future energy demand needs of NSW whilst supporting the national energy market transition by:
– Enabling greater amounts of renewable energy to be conveyed to NSW homes and businesses,
– Managing energy peak demand periods without requiring fossil fuel based generation, and
– Offering electricity grid resilience through stabilisation services such as frequency and voltage control.
The project will generate a range of jobs throughout its construction, procurement, operations and maintenance phases, with indirect impacts extending to local supply chains including accommodation, vehicle servicing, catering and cleaning, tradespersons, tool and equipment suppliers, and many other businesses.
DEVELOPMENT STATUS
The Kangaroo Valley BESS is currently at an early stage of development with land secured and initial phases development underway. The development phase of the project is expected to be completed in early 2028.
SITE
The Project site is located in proximity to the Kangaroo Valley substation and serviced by established roadways facilitating easy access.
PLANNING
The planning approval pathway for the project is through the NSW State Significant Development process. It requires preparation of a scoping report, request for Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements, an Environmental Impact Statement and lodgement of the development application with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
GRID
As part of the grid strategy, Firm Power will submit a connection application to Transgrid, including system studies and models which cover the performance of the BESS. Following review of the connection application by Transgrid and AEMO it is expected that an Offer to Connect will be received along with the associated connection agreement. Preliminary connection enquiries have been completed for the project.
Construction & Operations
Once all necessary approvals, agreements and authorisations have been obtained, construction activities for the Kangaroo Valley BESS project can commence.
Construction is expected to take up to 18 months and involves site preparation, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning stages. Site preparation includes civil works to make the ground suitable for the BESS equipment, such as earthworks, drainage and foundations. Following this, electrical equipment such as battery module enclosures, inverters, transformers, switchgear and ancillary systems are delivered to site, installed and connected. The last step in construction is the testing and commissioning process where the BESS installation is validated and made ready for operation.
The BESS will be designed to operate for greater than a 20-year useful life. During this period operational work will generally involve monitoring, testing and maintenance of equipment as well as deliveries, waste removal and other general site maintenance (such as care of groundcover). During this period the site will be monitored and controlled remotely with staff and contractors coming to site periodically for the other activities.
At the BESS end of life, the site will either be reconditioned or remediated. This involves the removal of all above-ground infrastructure and any works needed to return the land to a safe, clean and stable state.
Community
The Kangaroo Valley BESS will bring new sustainable technology to the local area and create construction jobs, opportunities for local suppliers and ongoing project roles. Firm Power is interested in talking to members of the community who have an interest in energy storage or who would like to discuss education, provision of services or employment opportunities that may exist in the future.
Firm Power is undertaking local community consultation with a community drop-in event scheduled for 16th October. A follow-on session is planned for before the Christmas holidays of 2024.
If you have questions or concerns, or would simply like to learn about the project, you can contact our team directly by filling out the following form or calling 0406 210 014.