SolarEdge Technologies Energy Storage Division and Pacific Energy join forces to support Australia’s energy transition. Their collaboration aims to decarbonize the mining and utility sectors by providing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) to various customers across the country.
Since the start of their partnership in 2019, the two companies have delivered 55 megawatt hours (MWh) of BESS, with an additional order of 66 MWh planned for the domestic market over the next two years. These projects cover a wide geographic area, from Esperance in the southwest of Western Australia to the Pilbara region in the northwest, making this collaboration one of the largest in terms of deployment of BESS in Australia.
One of the first flagship projects of this partnership is the Esperance hybrid system, where Pacific Energy has integrated battery rack systems supplied by SolarEdge for a BESS of 1.3 MWh. This system combines wind, solar and natural gas, requiring sophisticated grid stabilization technology called virtual generation. This integration allows greater penetration of renewable energies while guaranteeing the stability of the city’s electricity supply.
Expansion and Major Projects
Since the Esperance project, the partnership has expanded its operations, delivering several cutting-edge BESSs to Australian miners and utilities. A notable example is the 42MW/19MWh BESS system for Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect project. This system, one of the largest in the world connected to the grid for a mining application, supports two Fortescue operations in the Pilbara region.
The main role of these energy storage systems is to ensure the stability and support of the electricity grid. They provide a virtual spinning reserve, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and deliver stabilizing bursts of power in milliseconds during grid disruptions, using SolarEdge’s advanced battery technology.
Technology and Integrated Service Model
The strength of this partnership lies in combining SolarEdge’s advanced lithium-ion battery technology, characterized by high energy performance, high charge/discharge efficiency and long cycle life, with the integrated service model vertically of Pacific Energy. The latter offers customers an unrivaled experience, covering negotiation with suppliers, system design, manufacturing and installation, through to operations and maintenance throughout the life of the asset.
Unprecedented demand for renewable energy integration is complicating power system design, making tailored battery solutions crucial for operational reliability. This necessity drives SolarEdge and Pacific Energy to continually refine their offerings to meet the specific needs of their customers.
Prospects and Future Development
Craig Blizard, CTO of Pacific Energy, highlights the importance of this collaboration: “We are working with SolarEdge because they offer a superior product and understand that each of our customers’ battery needs are different. This collaboration allows us to maximize the technical capabilities of batteries to deliver sophisticated and tailored systems, helping to decarbonize our customers’ operations. »
Ofer Bokobza, Managing Director of SolarEdge’s Energy Storage business, added: “Pacific Energy’s proven success in transitioning the Australian energy market is a testament to their deep understanding of customers’ energy needs and operational excellence. We are excited to collaborate with leading systems integrators who help us design and develop the right products for the right mission profiles and advance our technology to meet future market needs. »
This strategic alliance allows both companies to work closely with their customers to understand their critical needs and design tailored solutions to manage demanding loads and mitigate operational risks.
