Edify Energy and Wirsol Energy have connected the 60MW Gannawarra Solar Farm in northwest Victoria to the grid, with a storage retrofit expected before the summer.

The solar farm is connected on site to Powercor’s 66kV distribution line between Swan Hill and Kerang, providing access to Victoria’s power grid. The commissioning process has commenced and once in full production it will provide power to around 18,100 Victorian households. 

The solar farm, which is spread over 132 hectares, will be integrated with the Gannawarra Energy Storage System – a 25MW / 50MWh Tesla Powerpack battery – developed by Edify Energy and owned jointly by Wirsol Energy and Edify Energy. The project will therefore demonstrate how existing PV projects can be successfully retrofitted with battery storage.

This element of the project is expected to be completed before the summer this year, at which time the Gannawarra Energy Storage System and the Gannawarra Solar Farm will be amongst the largest integrated solar and storage facilities in the world. This project also features a first-of-its-kind long-term commercial services agreement with the utility EnergyAustralia, who will operate the battery in conjunction with its offtake from the Gannawarra Solar Farm. 

Mark Hogan, managing director of Wirsol Energy, said: “The Gannawarra solar farm is in every respect a world leading project and is testament to the future role of solar in enhancing energy supply across Australia.”