Australia’s Largest Solar-BESS Hybrids: Grid-Forming Kit Overview
Edify Energy is set to bolster its Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Gap project located in the Banana Shire of central Queensland with cutting-edge battery technology and network support systems.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with DT Infrastructure and featuring equipment supplied by Power Electronics, will include 164 GEN 3 2.0 PCSM battery inverters, medium-voltage transformers, 536 Freesun DC/DC converters, and power plant controllers.
Optimised Energy Efficiency
According to Edify, the project utilises a DC-coupled architecture that ensures peak efficiency, minimising energy loss while simultaneously enhancing network stability and resilience to disturbances. This is made possible through the incorporation of grid-forming inverters, which Power Electronics asserts will refine the management and utilisation of renewable energy resources.
Expert Insights on Hybrid Projects
Glenn Clark, the business development director at Power Electronics, remarked that the Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Gap project serves as a benchmark for supporting complex hybrid initiatives, offering customers increased certainty throughout the entire project lifecycle. He emphasised the necessity of combining technology, engineering skills, and local know-how from the outset of grid connections for the success of grid-forming projects.
The Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Gap site spans roughly 1800 hectares with the capability of producing up to 1589GWh of renewable energy annually. Notably, Rio Tinto has committed to sourcing 90% of the project’s generated power, along with battery storage, for a duration of 20 years to fuel its aluminium operations in Gladstone. This dual power generation facility will connect to Powerlink’s 275kV network through a new terminal station.
Employment and Completion Timeline
At the height of construction, the project is expected to create around 800 job opportunities, with final completion anticipated by the end of 2028.
In a significant development, Edify Energy achieved financial closure for the Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Gap project in May, securing backing from 14 lenders, both domestic and international. The financing will be facilitated through a pioneering greenfield renewable energy debt financing platform, designed to offer a scalable foundation for future greenfield project developments.
