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Canberra infrastructure and renewables development company Elvin Group Renewable has announced that it will install Australia’s first commercial urban large scale-based utility battery.

It will also be the first installation of Tesla Mega Pack’s to provide renewable energy through Frequent Control Ancillary Services (FCAS). The 5MWh battery will primarily focus on providing utility and grid support in Canberra.

The new battery will aim to form an essential part of electricity infrastructure that will supply north Canberra suburbs of Holt and Ginninderry.

“The battery and solar array represented the first phase in a plan to provide Canberra with reliable renewable energy to power resident’s homes,” Elvin Group Renewables managing director Sam Blackadder says.

“This project has been developed in line with the ACT network distributor, Evoenergy, who are committed to supporting the connection of renewable solutions that enable continued reliable and high-quality power supply to the Canberra community.”

He adds that Evoenergy is committed to working with the energy industry and the community to promote the uptake of renewables the help facilitate ACT’s progression towards a net zero carbon future.

“We are excited to be a part of innovative projects like these and we’re dedicated to transforming our grid to be at the forefront of our energy network transition and technology change,” Evoenergy group manager, strategy and operations Leylann Hinch.

According to Sam, the battery will have the capacity to service the average energy needs of approximately 5,400 households for an hour and will also stand ready to pump power into the grid in the event of a shortfall.

“We are excited by this project, not only is it a major ‘in-front of meter’ installation in Australia but it is the first stage of a nationwide move to renewable energy and a wholesale reduction in our carbon emissions,” he says.

“The aim of this installation is to show that community how renewable resources are a viable solution to meet Canberra’s needs for stable, reliable, consistent and environmentally positive energy.”

As the project is expanded, batteries can be placed at strategic sites around the grid, to inject bursts of power to fill gaps in dispatchable supply through a virtual power plant (VPP), meaning that the nation’s existing power supply can be used more efficiently to serve greater demand.