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Wagga North BESS

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Project Summary

ib vogt is proposing to develop a battery energy storage system (BESS) located within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area in the Riverina region of NSW.

 

The proposed site is located on rural land and sits within the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct (SAP) directly adjacent (to the South) of the Transgrid Wagga North electrical substation.

The BESS will have a capacity of 120MW and a duration of 4 hours, improving the stability and reliability of the grid.

The development would support approximately 90 jobs during its approximately 18-month construction period.

 

The development footprint relating to the BESS comprises approximately 4 hectares.

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Construction and operation of the Project would involve the following key components:
 

  • Battery containers

  • Inverters

  • Transformer

  • Switch room

  • Switchyard

  • A prefabricated Operations and Maintenance (O&M) building and staff amenities  

  • Water tanks for on-site usage and firefighting purposes  

  • Earthworks and stormwater management infrastructure (e.g. diversion banks, etc.)  

  • Perimeter security fencing.  

  • Landscaping to the north, west and south of the battery area,
     

Temporary infrastructure, including construction facilities, tool and material storage sheds, construction staff car parking, component laydown areas and truck parking and unloading would also be required.

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The expected capacity and storage duration for the BESS would be approximately 120MW 4-hour (480MWh) and would be connected via underground connection to the TransGrid Wagga North Zone Substation, located immediately north. The BESS Project Site will be a maximum of 26.94 hectares (ha) whilst the development footprint relating to the BESS comprises approximately 4 ha. The development would support approximately 90 jobs during its 12–18-month construction period.

Planning & Environmental Approval

  • Wagga North BESS is located in the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct (SAP), a designated area in regional NSW that has been identified by the NSW Government for it’s capacity to drive economic growth and create jobs.
     

  • The NSW Government has undertaken prior consultation in the SAP Master Plan and Delivery Plan process with key government, community and First Nations stakeholders.
     

  • The project will apply for an Activation Precinct Certificate with the NSW Regional Growth Development Corporation and submit a Development Application with NSW Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI).
     

  • Key environmental considerations have been studied for noise, traffic, aboriginal cultural heritage, bushfire, stormwater management, contamination and erosion. Landscaping will be installed around the site. The site has a number of natural features, existing vegetation and infrastructure that mitigate noise and visual impacts from the closest residents. The project is in keeping with existing adjacent industrial land use and the Transgrid Wagga North electrical substation.

Benefits

  • The Project improves the stability and reliability of the electricity network by storing energy during periods of low demand, including those from more intermittent renewable sources (residential solar and grid-scale solar/wind Projects), and dispatching energy during periods of peak demand and emergency events. The Project would be a key piece of infrastructure in supporting energy storage development in regional Australia. 
     

  • Direct employment opportunities during the construction period (expecting approximately 90 construction jobs during peak construction period).
     

  • Once operational, it is anticipated that there would be up to 3 permanent jobs available for its operation as the Site would be largely remotely operated. Local labour and supply chain will be used for ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
     

  • This Project will help Australia to reduce its emissions, improve national resilience in energy supply and support affordable energy for Australians.
     

  • The Project would provide an opportunity for optimising the management and security of energy for use in peak periods, particularly in a time of energy transition as ageing coal fired power stations exit the system.
     

  • The Project is also consistent with the current goals and targets for renewable energy generation in NSW. These include:
     

    • Contribute to the national renewable energy target by promoting energy security through a more diverse energy mix, reducing coal dependence, increasing energy efficiency, and moving to lower emission energy sources. 
       

    • Contributing to achieving the NSW target of zero net emissions by 2050.

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