NORTHERN BATTERY
AMPYR Australia in partnership with Green Gold Energy (GGE) are developing the Northern Battery in Port Augusta to provide South Australia with energy reliability and security through energy storage.Â
Northern Battery
A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is proposed to be developed on a portion of the former Northern Power Station precinct at 420 Northern Power Station Road, Port Paterson.
A BESS is a large rechargeable battery which stores excess electricity and releases it when it's required during periods of peak demand. BESS stabilise the electricity grid by balancing fluctuations in energy demand and supply.
Construction jobs
This project occupies a compact area of approximately 7 hectares and is expected to create over 120 jobs during construction. The construction period is estimated to take around 12 months.
Megawatt （MW）
The battery will have a total capacity of 270 megawatts (MW) and be capable of storing up to 8 hours of electricity, which can be supplied to the South Australian grid on demand. The project will help improve energy reliability and security in South Australia, providing power equivalent to 300,000 homes.
Where will the Northern Battery be located?
Located within the City of Port Augusta, the project site is located approximately 6 km south of the centre of Port Augusta. The project site formerly hosted the Northern Power Station, which was closed in 2016 and has subsequently been demolished. The BESS development site is less than 1% of the Northern Power Station site (approximately 7 hectares) .
Proposed Northern Battery Overview​
The Northern Battery will comprise around 208 batteries and 52 inverters in rows , delivering a nameplate capacity of 270 MW, with a total storage capacity of approximately 1050 MWh A new substation will be developed adjacent to the battery area and connected to the existing Davenport substation via a new underground transmission line.
The project will also include ancillary infrastructure such as storage buildings, staff amenities, stormwater ponds, and site fencing, with vehicle access provided via Augusta Highway and Northern Power Station Road to ensure efficient site operations.
The site of the Northern Battery was chosen with careful consideration to minimise impacts on the environment and residents of the Port Paterson area.
What is the planning approval process in South Australia?
A BESS development is assessed by the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) and determined under the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023 (HRE Act) by the Minister for Energy and Mining (the ‘Minister’). A BESS requires an Associated Infrastructure Licence (AIL) under the HRE Act.
To obtain an AIL, a developer must prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which describes the environmental conditions and potential impacts the development may have on the environment. A developer of a renewable energy facility, including a BESS development must avoid or reduce environmental damage as far as reasonably practicable. Managing environmental risks is outlined in the Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO), which establishes criteria to be applied to various objectives. By way of example, noise generation may be considered an environmental risk and there will be criteria which would be applied to ensure that any potential noise is managed appropriately.
The draft EIR will be supported by a range of expert environmental reports, which is likely to include acoustic, visual, native vegetation, cultural heritage, traffic and stormwater/civil assessments. The outcomes of these technical reports will inform the management of the environment for the construction and operation of the development and will inform the SEO.
A draft EIR and SEO will be prepared by the developer and be placed on community consultation to enable the community to review the environmental assessment and proposed management techniques. Comments received during the consultation process must then be considered and addressed by the Proponent in a final EIR and SEO submitted to the Minister. A further consultation process is undertaken by DEM, prior to the Minister considering the application for approval or refusal.
It is anticipated that the application process will take between 6 and 9 months.
See our Draft EIR here
See our Draft SEO here
Why is the project important?
A sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system is a key objective of the SA Government (State Planning Policy 12-Energy). The provision of sustainable, reliable and affordable energy is essential in meeting the basic needs of communities and ensuring the long-term supply of key services across South Australia. Industries and business rely on energy for their viability while households rely on it daily to support their lives, health and comfort. The production of energy and associated infrastructure also contributes significantly to the state’s economy.