Energy storage disrupting the electricity market

Energy storage lies at the heart of grid digitisation and is part of a larger trend of technologies that is disrupting South Australia’s network for the better, according to Terry Teoh, general manager of engineering at ZEN Energy.

Ahead of his presentation on monetising storage at the grid edge in Adelaide’s CBD at the Australian Energy Storage Conference, Teoh said battery storage currently has strong market potential in South Australia and the National Electricity Market (NEM).

“Energy storage and the ability to perform peer transactions lie at the heart of grid digitisation and will drive the democratisation of energy, just as we are seeing the democratisation of services, media and R&D,” he said.

Teoh and ZEN Energy are undertaking a groundbreaking project demonstrating real-time optimisation and monetisation of battery storage in the NEM by connecting four high-profile Adelaide CBD buildings to 513 kWh of behind-the-meter storage.

The four sites — the Art Gallery, State Library, Adelaide High School and the Adelaide City Council works depot in Thebarton — were chosen for their contrasting load and occupancy patterns, and their potential to apply battery storage in conjunction with solar and demand response.

Teoh said the $1 million project will play a defining role in opening up the commercial storage market, starting in South Australia.

“It will provide real implementation experience and benefit quantification of batteries located in commercial sites, monetising multiple value streams,” he said.

“It will turn a theoretical concept into a commercially executable reality for commercial and industrial customers looking for a lifeline to alleviate their energy price distress in South Australia.”

Teoh’s presentation at the Australian Energy Storage Conference, ‘Monetising Storage at the Grid Edge in the Adelaide CBD: The South Australian storage demo project’, will explore the deployment of commercial storage in Australia and, in particular, how storage can be used to safeguard South Australia’s electricity network.

The conference and exhibition will run from 14–15 June at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. Themed ‘Investing in Australia’s Energy Storage Future’, the event will feature more than 50 Australian and international speakers presenting on the possibilities of storage.

What: Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition
When: 14–15 June
Where: International Convention Centre Sydney
Web: www.australianenergystorage.com.au