Hitachi Energy deploys microgrid with large battery energy storage in Australia

Hitachi Energy has supplied a containerized microgrid solution to support a gas-fired power station to optimize and automate its operations, increase energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel consumption and enable uninterrupted power supply from Alinta Energy’s Newman Power Station, which supplies mining operations in the Pilbara.

Hitachi Energy’s microgrid solution includes a 30 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system, which is one of the largest of its kind to be deployed in a gas-fired power plant. A 30 MW battery energy storage system can supply 6,000 homes with the power supply, where the average supply would be 5 kW. 

Mining is a key focus sector in Australia and accounts for approximately six of the country’s GDP. The Newman Power Station, situated around 1,200 km (km) north of Perth in Western Australia, supplies power to remotely located mining operations. 

Hitachi Energy’s microgrid solution will provide power supply to cover the time it takes to start-up a new gas when there is a fault in the running turbine causing power to trip. This back-up will enable uninterrupted supply of reliable power and prevent any disruption. 

Hitachi Energy’s modular and containerized microgrid will integrate five 6 MW PowerStore™ battery energy storage systems with the power station’s existing gas turbines, providing a ‘spinning reserve’. Hitachi Energy has supplied a range of transformers and switchgear to integrate the system. 

The innovative solution incorporates Hitachi Energy’s Microgrid Plus automation and control technology that serves as the brain of the entire system to monitor the gas turbines and facilitate utility-grade power quality and grid stability. It is also equipped for remote service and maintenance. 

"Our plug-and-play microgrid solution, has been designed to meet complex automation requirements and will ensure grid stability and fuel saving for Alinta’s operation,” said Massimo Danieli, Head of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Automation business unit.

“Microgrids and energy storage are key focus areas in our Next Level strategy, supporting our quest to provide grid stability, fuel savings, and bring reliable power to while reducing environmental impact, as exemplified by this project.”

Hitachi Energy is a pioneer in microgrid technology with installations all over the world, across a diverse range of applications serving remote communities, islands, utilities and industrial campuses. Fifteen of these microgrid solutions are installed in Australia.