A new council works depot has become the first major solar installation in Sydney to include an industrial-scale solar large scale battery, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report.
The Alexandra Canal Works Depot is a sustainable development south of the Sydney CBD.
Water reuse, efficient design and renewable energy have been incorporated into the facility, with the goal of carbon emissions reduction and improved energy efficiency.
Around 1,600 solar panels power the site. In addition, a Tesla battery that can store up to 500 kWh of solar energy also supports the system. To get an idea of scale, a battery such as this could power 50 homes for a whole day.
Solar large scale battery reduces emissions and grid reliance
The solar plus battery installation will allow the depot to reduce both its grid demand and energy costs. It also means the depot can achieve a carbon neutral classification.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the installation should save the city around 600 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. She described the uptake of renewable energy as “critical in combating the worst impacts of climate change”.
Installation a part of long-term renewable energy goals
The installation forms part of the longer term renewable energy plans and goals for the City of Sydney. These include:
- Achieving a goal of 7,800 solar panels across Sydney council buildings by 2021.
- Trialling battery storage of up to 1.5 MWh capacity across Sydney’s council buildings.
- Hitting the council target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 70 per cent below 2006 levels by 2030.
Another goal of the council’s renewable energy ‘master plan’ is to increase localised renewable energy generation. This helps reduce the cost of transporting electricity from power plants to the city.
The plan also works towards tackling the problem of intermittent power. This includes where solar and wind depend on climatic conditions and time of day to operate. Installing a large-scale battery such as the one at the Alexandra Canal site should go part of the way to providing a solution.
Moore also pointed out that similar solutions to the Alexandra Canal depot facility’s could increase electricity network reliability and resilience, and potentially prevent blackouts across the city.
