The ACT is leading the nation on climate action. We are already powered by 100% renewable electricity, and the next step in our plan to reduce emissions and provide sustainable energy to Canberra households is the delivery of one of the largest battery storage systems in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Big Canberra Battery will help future proof the Territory’s energy supply by reducing the load on our electricity network, supporting more families to switch to reliable renewable energy sources to power their homes.
This year’s Budget will invest in the project, which will be delivered in three streams. Once built, this ecosystem will be capable to power around one third of the ACT.
Stream 1 will deliver 250 MW of grid connected battery storage to support the electricity network. Stream 2 will initially seek to deliver batteries at 14 government sites to help reduce power used in government buildings and reduce the strain on the distribution network, and stream 3 will deliver medium sized neighbourhood batteries.
The government sites are spread around the city, with batteries planned for sites in Fyshwick, Gungahlin, Belconnen, Chifley, Greenway, Kambah and Stromlo.
Procurement processes for streams 1 and 2 are currently being developed and will open to industry in August 2022.
The investments through the 2022-23 ACT Budget allow us to build on the government’s commitments through the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement and will get us closer to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.
