About the Hornsdale Power Reserve

The biggest solar energy battery on the globe is Hornsdale Power Reserve (HPR) battery in South Australia. This solar energy battery continues to make headlines, raking savings in the millions for South Australian residents.

The solar battery saved a surprising $5.7 million in its second quarter based on 30 megawatts (MW) of capacity it is trading, bringing a gross margin of $8.9 million. $3.2 million was saved in its first quarter developing consistent savings that other utilities can encourage for savings potential in their districts.

The savings were estimated using the same analysis the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) applied in the first quarter. A few variances brought in a higher estimate for Frequency Control and Ancillary Services.

Australia’s Growing Desire

Looking to the second half of the year, savings for 2018 are about $18 million, giving a return on the initial investment for trading power that’s stored then discharged by the battery system. Only 30% of the system’s 100 MW capacity is used for trading.

This leaves others to contemplate the potential revenue made would be at its full capacity. Deep analysis of the charging and discharging trends show that the battery is getting smarter as the network evolves due to a large storage array that’s joined the pricing sector. In the first quarter, the battery utilized the solar system as you would expect.

In the second quarter, the patterns shifted by charging at night but included a morning discharge period that presumably absorbs high network usage from customers beginning their morning routines. The battery also included a brief recharge period around day’s peak renewable energy production period in preparation for the evening duck curve.

Note that the HPR is basing its actions on network spot pricing. Following costs allows the battery to fill in where the network operators and electricity generators need it the most. Power pricing is shifting since this new solar energy installation, with a weighted average cost over the first 6 months of $191/MWh.

The system purchased power for an average price of $79/MWh. The need for network storage will be of more importance as more clean energy are included. The network storage is essential for Australia’s growing want for more renewable and less expensive energy. The HPR battery reserves the fleeting title of the world’s biggest battery at 129 MWh.

Conclusion

There’s no double that this title will be passed to another network operator as utility companies consider stationary storage installations to replace older natural gas or coal-fired peaker plants. Looking for further information? Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power.

Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save. Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

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