Reyes Maroto inaugurates the first Naturgy battery storage center in the world in Australia

Spain has internationally leading companies

Naturgy recently announced the construction of its first hybrid solar and storage project internationally also in Australia, which will enter commercial operation in the first months of 2024.

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The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, has inaugurated the first battery storage facility that the energy company Naturgy will be put into operation worldwide. During her visit, the minister learned first-hand about the cutting-edge technology used in this facility along with Francisco Bustio, CEO of Global Power Generation (GPG), the international generation subsidiary of Naturgy, and other members of the GPG team in the country. 

 

For Minister Maroto, “this new investment by the Naturgy Group in Australia shows the potential that Spanish companies have worldwide and their ability to develop projects that are pioneers in sectors such as energy and renewable energies, where Spain has internationally leading companies. In addition to Naturgy, there are many Spanish companies with a presence in the Australian market that are references in other areas such as infrastructure or the naval industry. With this visit I want to support Spanish companies with a presence in Australia such as Naturgy and promote new investments in this important market.”

For his part, Bustío stated that the implementation of the energy company's first storage system in Australia "It is an important step in strengthening our international presence and our contribution to the energy transition. We are very satisfied to have the trust of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for the development of this relevant project, and we hope to continue collaborating closely from now on.” The CEO of GPG explained that this type of system allows renewable energy to be stored to supply it when necessary in times of low production, since it makes the production of renewable energy more flexible and guarantees its integration into the system.

The Spanish ambassador to Australia also participated in the inauguration and visit to the plant, Alicia Moral Revilla; the general director of International Trade and Investments, Alicia Rocío Varela; the Economic and Commercial Counselor, Ana Raquel García Rubio; and the general director of the Chamber of Spain, Immaculate Riera i Reñé, among others. 

 

According to Maroto, “this new investment by the Naturgy Group in Australia demonstrates the potential of Spanish companies worldwide and their ability to develop pioneering projects in sectors such as energy and renewable energy.”

 

Queanbeyan Battery Center

The Queanbeyan battery center is the first storage facility that Naturgy will put into operation globally. It is located in the Australian capital region, next to the city of Canberra, and will have a strategic character in support of the area's distribution network.

Through a Lithium-Ion battery system with a power of 10 MW and a storage capacity of 20 MWh, the center Queanbeyan It will be able to accumulate electricity from renewable sources and pour it into the grid when required at times of lower electricity production.

In this way, the installation not only reinforces the supply, but also contributes to promoting the country's energy transition, ensuring the presence of clean energy in the network in a continuous and stable manner. The project is associated with the construction of the Berrybank 2 wind farm, which the group will begin operating in the coming months.

Solid commitment to Australia

 

Australia is a priority country for Naturgy within its strategic objectives for the coming years. The group aims to reach an installed capacity in the country of 2,2 GW by 2025, with an investment of close to 2.000 million euros focused on the development of wind, photovoltaic technology plants and storage systems, such as Queanbeyan.

 

The group currently operates the wind farms of Crookwell II and Berrybank I, and finalizes the entry into operation of Berrybank II. In addition, Naturgy works on a robust portfolio of projects in construction and development with a capacity of 1,2 GW, concentrated in the regions of Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. 

 

Naturgy's presence in Australia dates back to 2007 and has always aimed to build a strong renewable portfolio that provides clean energy sources and contributes to the development of rural and regional communities. The company carries out its activity in the country through its subsidiary GPG, established in 2014 and in which the group holds a majority stake of 75%, together with Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), which has the remaining 25% GPG manages a total installed capacity of more than 4.000 MW and employs around 500 people all over the world