The government of South Australia today announced more than AUD 8 million (USD 6.1m/EUR 5.1m) in grants to four energy storage projects across technologies including batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and thermal storage using sewage.
The support is being provided through the AUD-150-million Renewable Technology Fund, part of which has previously been allocated to the 100-MW/129-MWh Tesla battery in the state.
The University of South Australia (UniSA) will receive AUD 3.6 million for a AUD-7.7-million project at its Mawson Lakes campus that will cut campus emissions by 35% and reduce peak demand on the grid, the state government said. The project includes hydrogen production and a 50-kW hydrogen fuel cell, a 0.45-MWh flow battery, 3.2 million litres (845,000 gallons) of chilled water storage and 1.8 MW of solar panels.
Planet Ark Power and Schneider Electric SE (EPA:SU) will get a AUD-1.95-million grant towards a solar-plus-battery project, comprising 5.7 MW of solar and 2.9 MWh of battery storage, at an Adelaide distribution centre. Worth AUD 13.9 million, the project includes a micro-grid management system and will be integrated with SA Power Networks' Utility Distribution Management System.
A AUD-1.6-million grant has been awarded to 1414 Degrees for a AUD-3.2-million thermal storage project that uses technology being commercialised by the company. Located at the Glenelg Waste Water Treatment Plant, the project will include a 0.25-MW/10-MWh thermal energy storage system that will hold heat generated from the combustion of biogas produced on site.
SunSHIFT will get AUD 1 million for a AUD-2.69-million modular and relocatable solar-plus-battery project at the Heathgate Resources Beverley mine that will integrate with an existing on-site gas power plant. The project will feature a 1-MW photovoltaic (PV) system and a 1-MW/0.5-MWh battery.
"The incredible response to the Renewable Technology Fund and the diverse range of technologies represented in this round of funding shows how much potential exists in this industry of the future," said premier Jay Weatherill. More than 80 proposals have already been submitted for technologies that include batteries, bioenergy, pumped hydro, thermal, compressed air and hydrogen.
(AUD 1 = USD 0.758/EUR 0.640)
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Batteries. CC0 Public Domain licensed on Pixabay
