More than 3GW of battery storage projects with a combined value of $3.7 billion are in competition for government funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

ARENA has today announced that 12 projects have been invited to submit full applications to the $100 million Large Scale Battery Storage Round which aims to support grid-scale batteries to be equipped with advanced inverter technology.

Together, the 12 shortlisted grid-scale batteries have an aggregate capacity of 3,050MW/7,000MWh and a total ARENA grant request of $297 million. The 12 projects have been shortlisted by ARENA from a pool of 54 Expressions of Interest (EOIs).

Under the competitive round, the shortlisted projects will ultimately be vying for up to $100 million in ARENA grant funding to support both new build projects and retrofits for existing batteries nationally, with each battery to be at least 70MW.

Advanced inverters, also known as grid-forming inverters, enable batteries to provide essential system services traditionally provided by synchronous generation such as coal or gas.

AEMO’s 2021 Advanced Inverter white paper outlined the important role of grid-forming inverters in supporting a future grid capable of operating with 100% instantaneous renewable generation.

AEMO’s 2022 Integrated System Plan identified a growing need for electricity storage, outlining a trebling of firming capacity in the National Electricity Market with more than 60GW of dispatchable generation and storage required by 2050.

Shortlisted applicants have been invited to submit their full applications by a 20 July 2022 deadline. ARENA expects to announce the successful applicants to the round in late 2022