Powin to equip 1.9-GWh Aussie super battery for Blackrock's Akaysha

US energy storage company Powin LLC has begun work on the 1.9-GWh Waratah Super Battery project in New South Wales on behalf of BlackRock Real Assets’ Akaysha Energy.

Powin said last week that it will deliver 2,592 of its Centipede energy segments and 288 power conversion units for the huge project, representing a total capacity of 909 MW/1,915 MWh. Additionally, it will oversee the facility’s operations under a 20-year long-term service agreement (LTSA).

Akaysha won the government tender to develop, build and operate the AUD-1-billion (USD 673.9m/EUR 646.6m) Waratah Super Battery last month. The project’s goal is to provide storage capacity of at least 700 MW and ensure that Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong have access to more energy from existing generators.

The Waratah Super Battery will be installed at the former Lake Munmorah coal-fired power complex in New South Wales Central Coast region, 100 km north of Sydney. With its construction slated to begin early in 2023, commercial operations are planned to be achieved by mid-2025, prior to the planned closure of Origin Energy’s Eraring coal-fired power station.

The project has been deemed as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) by the New South Wales government.

Powin entered the Aussie market in August with the award of a 1.7-GWh energy storage supply deal by Australia-based Akaysha. The US firm noted that the Waratah Super Battery contract is independent of that initial deal.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.674/EUR 0.647)

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