Limondale BESS Battery Energy Storage System

A BESS is a Battery Energy Storage System (battery system). Battery systems store and release electricity. In an modern energy world with increasing wind and solar energy, battery storages support grid stability. The energy is stored during periods of favourable weather conditions and low demand and released during demand peaks, as well as heat waves and emergencies. This helps to improve the electricity network’s reliability.

Battery systems are needed for several reasons:

• Weather fluctuations mean renewable energy sources cannot provide all the electricity we need, all the time. Battery systems allow renewable energy generated during periods of low demand or high generation to be released when required (periods of high demand or when it is not sunny or windy) which helps solve supply interruptions. 
• Battery systems help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which decreases greenhouse gas emissions.
• Battery systems support decentralisation of the energy supply. This means energy is generated and provided close to where it will be used rather than at far away locations and then provided through the national grid. This contributes to the network’s reliability and is especially helpful in remote areas with limited access to the grid. 
• Battery systems support affordable energy for Australian homes.

Australia’s first large-scale battery, the Hornsdale Power Reserve, was built in South Australia in 2017. Today, additional battery systems are either operating, under construction or in development.

As a pioneer in the field of battery storage, RWE develops, builds and operates innovative, competitive standalone large-scale battery storage systems as well as onshore and solar hybrid projects in Europe, Australia and the USA. From 2025, RWE will have more than one gigawatt of battery storage capacity in operation.  Globally, RWE aims to build battery storage systems with a total capacity of 6 gigawatts by 2030. An overview of the RWE BESS business can be found at our website.

Developing a battery system in Australia requires extensive studies, assessments and engagement with community and other stakeholders before submitting a planning application, which is tailored to the relevant state’s planning process.

Battery system sites look like substations. The sites include containers that house the components necessary for operation such as inverters, transformers, cooling and fire suppression systems, and switch rooms. You can view a video on how a battery storage system is created here.

No. Battery system operations are typically monitored and managed from a central control room that is offsite. However, electrical industry specialists visit the site periodically to undertake regular maintenance.

RWE is committed to maximising the opportunity for local businesses and workers for all our projects. We typically seek services from a range of areas including electricians, earthmovers, concreters and general labourers. How long do battery systems take to construct? This varies due to the battery system’s size. On average, a battery system takes between 12 and 24 months to complete. 

Battery systems can operate for up to 20 years. This lifespan can be more or less due to individual project variables. 

This stage of the battery system project is called decommissioning. At the end of a project’s life, RWE is responsible for restoring the project land to a standard agreed between us (as the project owner and operator) and the relevant landowner to allow agricultural operations to continue. Decommissioning can take various forms, including infrastructure removal and recycling or repowering.

The time it takes to charge a battery system is the same as the battery’s storage duration. For example, a 4-hour battery system would take 4 hours to charge.

To read more information and view a video on battery energy storage systems visit the RWE website.

BESS investment decision