Aussie firms form JV for 4.5 GW of long-duration storage in Victoria

Australian renewable energy developers Sunshine Hydro and Energy Estate will seek to develop up to 4.5 GW of long-duration energy storage projects to be integrated with renewable generation and green hydrogen capacity in Victoria.

The duo will work on the initiative through a new joint venture (JV) company, they said on Wednesday. The entity will focus on several large-scale pumped-hydro energy storage projects across the state, with plans to integrate green hydrogen production and start with locations in central Victoria. Other long-duration energy storage technologies such as flow batteries, solar thermal, compressed air and hydrogen storage will also be pursued.

The two companies intend to explore options to maximise the repurposing of existing transmission infrastructure in the state.

Sunshine Hydro and Energy Estate are already partnering in a SuperHybrid project in Central Queensland that combines technologies for pumped hydropower and green hydrogen production and intend to embark on more projects in other Aussie markets.

“Our aim is to replace the dispatchable capacity which will be lost once the coal-fired power stations in the LaTrobe Valley retire and support the development of a green hydrogen industry in Victoria,” said Michael Myer, chair of Sunshine Hydro.

Victoria has set a goal for 95% of all electricity in the state to come from renewable energy by 2035.

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