General News
25 February, 2025
Energy project plans power on
Energy Vault will be the contractor tasked with delivering the 100-megawatt, two-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) component for the SEC Renewable Energy Park to be constructed in Horsham.
Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio announced they were one step closer to completing the first 100 per cent publicly owned renewable energy project in Australia which will help lower energy bills and create hundreds of jobs in Horsham.
In making the announcement she said building more renewable energy will make sure Victoria can continue to have the lowest wholesale energy prices in the market, push down energy bills and create good local jobs.
The battery will store energy from the project’s 119-megawatt solar farm, generating around 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy a year – enough to power 51,000 homes.
The battery will store cheap renewable energy from the solar farm and pump it into the electric grid at times of peak demand – helping to lower power prices.
The battery also enables an additional 180 megawatts of new renewables to be connected to the grid.
Preconstruction works have begun on site in Horsham, with the project on track for completion in 2027.
The project will create around 246 jobs over the construction period, including 20 roles for apprentices, cadets and trainees.
The SEC will also deliver direct benefits for the local community, via a community benefits fund.
They will work with the community to invest $42,000 a year back into the local area during the project’s construction, and a further $70,000 every year once the project is operational.
The development comes as the SEC’s first investment project, the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub prepares to plug into Victoria’s electricity grid later this year. The 600-megawatt big battery near Melton will store enough renewable energy to power 200,000 homes during peak periods.
All profits made by the SEC will be reinvested back into Victoria and help to deliver more renewable energy projects and help Victorians save money on their energy bills.