Australian Manufacturer Magellan Power Hands Over Energy Storage for Onslow Power Project

What is the Onslow Power Project?

Horizon Power’s Onslow Power project is Australia’s largest distributed energy resource Microgrid, which – on completion – will provide more than half of the town of Onslow’s electricity needs from renewable resources. Faced with increased demand for energy in Onslow and driven by population movements and resource developments, the contemporary energy solution will meet ongoing energy needs of the town, whilst ensuring any new power infrastructure takes advantage of the price reduction in renewable and battery storage technology.

The project is referred to as a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Microgrid, which is a way of creating energy differently compared with the traditional power station. Sources of energy could include rooftop solar, battery storage devices and wind. This energy is then stored in the battery storage system and fed to the community. The DER Microgrid is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than conventional generation of power.

What was Magellan Power’s Involvement? 

The first stage of the DER Microgrid Project consisted of a new 7 MW gas-fired power plant which used the Magellan Power Utility Scale Battery Storage System to:

• Enable the growth of renewable energy percentage in the microgrid. 

• Increase the generation efficiency of the power station.

• Increase the operational life of power generation.

• Increase the dynamic response of power generation.

• Reduce the generation of carbon emissions.

• Improve the availability of generation.

• Prevent the power plant from blackout in case of generator trip and line loss.

• Reduce of the operation and maintenance costs of generators.

Magellan Power designed and manufactured the Utility Scale Battery Storage System which consisted of a 1MW/550kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in two 20 foot containers.

The BESS can be used for: 

• Dynamic Spinning Reserve – (no need to use an additional gen-set as spinning reserve). 

• Grid V/F Stabilisation (synthetic inertia and active damping).

• Grid Forming Constant V/F Source.

• Black Start of Power Plant.

• Load-Power Shifting.

• Load Leveling.

• Peak Shaving.

• Utility Transformer Energisation (mitigates the issues due to high inrush currents).

• Transmission Line Energisation.

• Microgrid Voltage and Frequency Regulation (V/F).

• Active Power Support.

• Dynamic Active Power Control (P).

• Active Power Absorption.

• Reactive Power Support.

• Dynamic Reactive Power Control (Q).

• Voltage Clamping (Reactive Power Grid Support).

Managing Director of Magellan Power Masoud Abshar said the project was a perfect example of how local Australian companies can support and supply large Australian projects with home grown solutions. “We don’t need to look elsewhere like the US for solutions to our own renewable energy problems. This shows that Australian utilities can and should confidently award contracts to energy storage manufacturers here in Australia.”

Magellan Power would like to also say a special thank you to LG Chem for providing the state of the art Lithium batteries, and ABB for the inverters in a professional and timely manner, helping to make the project a resounding success.

For more information on the Magellan BESS, please click here.