Visit Tesla's 'Big Battery' and other energy projects

The 2018 Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Adelaide from 23–24 May, is providing the rare opportunity to see first-hand one of three commercial and utility energy storage projects that are transforming South Australia’s energy sector.

Attendees will be able to tour the Hornsdale Wind Farm/Power Reserve, which houses the largest lithium battery installation in the world. Tours will also go to the Adelaide HS and Tonsley Innovation Precinct, the site of one of SIMEC ZEN Energy’s load shifting commercial battery installations, and the Redflow and Highbury Pumped Hydro Energy Storage installation.

The site tours will take place on 22 May and include transportation, a Q&A with the site owners and technology providers, and the chance to explore these significant installations and learn about their impact in the state.

The Tesla Big Battery

Described as one of the most talked about energy projects in Australia, the Tesla battery is located at Neoen’s Hornsdale Wind Farm. The full-day tour of the site will be led by Neoen and Tesla representatives, who will give an in-depth insight into the wind farm and battery installation.

In addition to an up-close tour of the battery installation, the conference will also feature a presentation by Tesla Director Mark Twidell, detailing how South Australia is powering forward with large-scale energy storage. Tesla will also be exhibiting at the free exhibition.

Adelaide HS and Tonsley Innovation Precinct

Adelaide High School is the site of a load-shifting commercial battery installation, paired with a solar array, by SIMEC ZEN Energy. A half-day tour gives access to the high school’s installation as well as the Tonsley Innovation Precinct, an innovative precinct developed to foster innovation in a low-carbon setting.

The majority shareholder of SIMEC ZEN Energy and chairman of GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta, will also be delivering the conference’s keynote presentation and talking about his recent investments in Australia’s energy industry.

Redflow and Highbury Pumped Hydro Energy Storage

The third site tour gives the opportunity to spend half a day exploring Redflow’s Adelaide office and ‘battery lab’, where flow batteries go through rigorous testing. Redflow is a supplier of zinc–bromine flow batteries, which power much of its Adelaide offices through solar and a large-scale energy storage system. Participants will also tour the recently announced Highbury Pumped Hydro installation, a former quarry that showcases the potential of pumped hydro energy storage.

Simon Hackett, a non-executive director and technology evangelist at Redflow, will deliver the conference’s day two plenary session. Redflow will also be showcasing new technologies at the free exhibition.

These exclusive site tours are only accessible with a full conference pass. Early-bird conference prices end on 10 April, so get in quick with the promo code ‘SA10’ to secure your spot. For more information, visit www.australianenergystorage.com.au.

Pictured: The Hornsdale Wind Farm Power Reserve.