Plans have been lodged for the second of two big battery storage systems set to become part of the ACT's energy grid.
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French-based company Neoen has lodged a development application with the ACT government for construction of the battery in Jerrabomberra, just metres from the NSW border.
The battery is expected to provide stand-alone energy storage of 100 megawatts or 200 megawatt hours with up to two hours of power in reserve - double the energy capacity originally slated in late 2020.
The territory government said last year a 50 megawatt battery would have enough storage capacity to power 15,000 homes for an hour in the event of a blackout. It's estimated the project will cost at least $15 million.
It comes as the ACT government on Thursday unveiled a $300 million suite of climate change initiatives, including $100 million to fund big-battery storage of at least 250 megawatts.
Documents have shown the Neoen battery will export electricity to a substation on the site, which will then transfer to the nearby Queanbeyan substation.
Design plans have indicated the battery will be made up of 50 battery packs up to 2.5 metres tall, along with 25 inverter stations.
While the battery is intended to service the Canberra population for several years, plans lodged with the ACT government indicated the potential for the battery to expand even further.
"The battery technology is conservatively estimated to have a life of at least 15 years," the development proposal said.
"It is likely that more efficient replacement technology will become available over time and therefore the proposed development's total life cycle could be up to 50 years, depending on technological innovation."
The plans said the equipment would be removed and all land rehabilitated if the battery facility was required to be decommissioned.
It's expected there will be no permanent staff on site once work on the battery is complete, with only one or two daily visits to the site. The development plans come just weeks after a similar development application was lodged by GPG for its battery storage project, which will be located nearby the Neoen project. GPG's battery is expected to be 10 megawatts.
Both companies were successful in a reverse auction carried out by the ACT government in September 2020.
In addition to building the two batteries between them, the companies will supply an additional 200 megawatts into Canberra's energy grid. Neoen were granted a 10-year feed-in tariff at $44.97 per megawatt hour.
Consultation on Neoen's battery will close on January 28, with a final decision to be made on its approval in coming weeks.
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