Dalrymple ESCRI-SA Battery Project

Boosting Reliability on Lower Yorke Peninsula

ElectraNet’s ESCRI-SA large-scale battery at Dalrymple substation demonstrates how energy storage can strengthen the grid and improve reliability for the lower Yorke Peninsula.

The Dalrymple 30 MW, 8 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) is the first transmission grid-connected battery in the National Electricity Market (NEM) providing both regulated and competitive market services.

The success of the project required significant innovation leadership, including:

• development of a first-of-its-kind commercial model to support the provision of regulated reliability and security services alongside competitive market services;
• navigating the NEM registration, licencing and connection processes for the first time paving the way for others to follow; and
• largest autonomous regional micro-grid development to date co-optimised for both grid-connected and islanded operation with 100% renewables.

The Dalrymple BESS works with AGL’s existing 90 MW Wattle Point Wind Farm and rooftop solar PV to provide back-up power in the event of any interruption to supply from the grid until the grid is restored. 

The battery facility was constructed by Adelaide company Consolidated Power Projects who worked with international power company ABB and battery provider Samsung to deliver the project.

Construction commenced in October 2017 and the site was energised in April 2018. Commissioning and testing occurred until late 2018 and AGL starting commercial operation of the BESS in December 2018.

The project was part funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ElectraNet delivered an extensive knowledge sharing program to share information about BESS performance, as part of its funding agreement with ARENA. The extent of knowledge sharing represents unprecedented transparency for a grid-scale BESS in the NEM, with knowledge-sharing material available further below.