A reliable and secure power supply is vital for our everyday lives. Battery Energy Storage Systems (or ‘BESS’) are becoming increasingly common in Australia as a safe and effective way to support renewable energy generation and to reduce outages. A BESS is a collection of thousands of small batteries, typically made of lithium-ion cells.
These batteries are connected to the electricity grid and can store the excess energy generated from renewables like wind and solar farms. They can also be recharged by the grid itself.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A BESS?
- Keeps the electricity grid stable and reduces the power outages
- Can store cheap excess power and distribute during peak demand times
- Reliable, affordable and on demand power supply
The transition to renewable energy comes with the challenge of balancing supply and demand. Solar energy is generated when the sun shines, but demand often peaks in the evening when we use more appliances. Similarly, wind energy can be produced at any time, including when demand is low, like at night. This mismatch can be resolved with batteries, which store surplus energy during low-demand periods and release it when demand rises.
Battery storage systems are safe and well-regulated in Australia. Vast technological improvements in recent years and the increasing number of BESS systems in Australia have significantly boosted industry safety knowledge and practices.
At ACCIONA Energía, we are committed to the safe and secure operation of all our renewable energy assets. Our projects only use equipment from certified battery suppliers who comply with all Australian safety standards and include components that have preventative and protective features to minimise fire risk.