As part of the energy transition, many countries are increasingly looking for cheap and efficient ways to store energy. Australia is now planning a CO2 battery that will be able to store electricity for around ten to twelve hours with an output of up to 20 megawatts.
The State Electricity Commission (SEC) in Australia recently announced the creation of a new energy innovation district called SEC Energy Works. The area available for this covers an area of approximately 143 hectares and is located in Hazelwood North in the Latrobe Valley. In the medium term, a CO2 battery with an output of 20 megawatts is to be built there, which can continuously feed electricity into the grid for up to twelve hours.
The value is therefore relatively high compared to classic short-term battery storage. Because these usually only offer a storage period of two to four hours. Victoria aims to achieve a 65 percent share of renewable energy by 2030. To this end, the SEC is planning projects with a total output of 1,024 megawatts.
First long-term energy storage project in Australia
The project is being developed in partnership with the technology company Energy Dome. The CO2 battery is Victoria’s first long-duration energy storage project and the first commercial application of closed-loop CO2 pressure storage in Australia.
The system takes advantage of the fact that a lot of excess energy is generated, especially on particularly sunny days. Finally, the technology stores excess renewable energy during the day and feeds it back in during evening demand peaks.
How does the CO2 battery from Australia work?
This happens by liquefying CO2. The reason: Carbon dioxide is heated less than air when compressed. Therefore, less waste heat has to be stored and used again later when generating electricity.
For comparison: Lithium batteries can store energy with even less loss, but the need for critical raw materials is lower with CO2 storage because only the turbine and compressor are more complex components.
In addition, no additional battery cells are necessary to increase the capacity. All you have to do is increase the volume. This should not only ensure a longer lifespan than other batteries, but also the capacity should not decrease over the years. Claudio Spadacini, founder and CEO of Energy Dome, said:
Our CO2 battery provides 10 to 12 hours of clean, on-demand power and uses proven compressor and turbine technology that the Latrobe Valley workforce is familiar with. This project will support the region’s transition away from coal, while maintaining the engineering skills that have powered Victoria for generations.
Technological progress through new CO2 battery
This is intended to help stabilize supplies and reduce electricity prices. Long-term energy storage is intended to ensure a continuous power supply and protect the SEC’s portfolio in the event of wind or solar power lulls lasting several days.
The project thus promotes the region’s transition to sustainable energy sources. Old coal-fired power plants will be phased out while maintaining the existing technical skills of the Latrobe Valley workforce through familiar turbine and compressor technologies.
The use of closed CO2 cycles offers a sustainable alternative to conventional short-term battery technologies for reliable long-term storage. Through government investments, the SEC aims to increase market confidence in newer, commercially viable technologies in the National Electricity Market (NEM). The Commission also shows this through its strategy. It supplies the operator Kinetic’s newest bus depot in Melbourne with 100 percent green electricity.
Nevertheless, detailed planning and design of the project only recently began. The consultation processes with stakeholders and communities are still in their early stages. This means that without the coordinating role and financial commitment of actors such as the SEC, there are still no attractive conditions for private investors in the long-term storage sector. But perhaps the Energy Dome will demonstrate that CO2 batteries have huge potential for the future.
Also interesting: