AGL feasibility study repurposing a power station
Image: ARENA
MGA Thermal is pleased to share that Australian electricity giant, AGL Energy Limited (AGL), who operate Australia’s largest electricity generation portfolio, is progressing with a feasibility study of MGA technology to be applied to the 200 MW Torrens Island B power station in South Australia, supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
AGL will be assessing the feasibility of repurposing existing electricity infrastructure at sites like Torrens Island, to be powered by renewable sources and backed by flexible energy storage technologies.
The $1 million feasibility study will investigate options to use grid electricity to charge the thermal energy storage and discharge through one of the power station’s existing 200 MW steam turbines, which ordinarily runs on gas, when electricity is required on the grid.
AGL’s feasibility study will be conducted over approximately 12 months, with MGA Thermal and one other shortlisted technology, with a view to establish the technical and commercial feasibility of the chosen preferred solution.
The Australian Energy Market Operator in its 2022 Integrated System Plan indicated the National Electricity Market (NEM) will need more than 60 GW of dispatchable generation and storage by 2050 to support the uptake of renewable energy.
The most pressing utility-scale need in the next decade is for medium-duration (4 to 12 hours) storage to manage daily variations in solar and wind output to meet customer demand as coal power stations are shut down.
Findings from the feasibility study are expected to be replicable and scalable with other thermal generators across the NEM, with technology providers being able to benefit from the information.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the study will explore the role thermal energy storage can take in allowing higher levels of renewable energy production across the NEM by repurposing existing power stations and energy infrastructure.
“AGL’s study comes at an important time when we need to look at all options for renewable energy storage. As thermal power stations close, there could be an opportunity to retrofit these sites as we head towards net zero emissions,” Mr Miller said.
Read the full ARENA announcement here.
