The battery project will be connected to a high-voltage transmission network and has no direct impact on the rooftop solar or battery system. However, there will be indirect benefit to the whole system as the BESS will be able to absorb solar production during daytime and hence will help the grid to accept more solar generation including from rooftop. Without sufficient BESS in the system, there may be restrictions on solar export which may impact the economics of rooftop solar.
Group: The Electricity Network
Will the Macedon BESS Project prioritize local electricity needs?
The electricity from the Macedon BESS project will first flow to the Gisborne Zone Substation. From there it will flow to where the demand is. Typically this will be the local areas such as Macedon, Woodend and surrounding areas. Once the local load is supplied, excess electricity will be exported to the transmission network through the 66kV network to reach more distant areas such as Sunbury.
How will the BESS project’s energy be supplied?
The Macedon BESS project will be charged and discharged at the medium voltage of 66 kV at Gisborne Zone Substation. When there is excess generation in the grid, the BESS will act as load and charge the cells. As generation reduced or demand increases, the BESS will discharge the stored energy to serve the demand.
How much land will the BESS project occupy?
The project site is approximately 5 hectares, and the Macedon BESS development footprint will occupy around 3.5 ha to build a 100 megawatts (MW), and 400 megawatt-hour (MWh) energy storage capacity. The Macedon BESS project on a 4-hour discharge cycle is expected to discharge enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 35,000 households.