S&C Electric Company has won a tender from an Australian distribution grid firm to install several 25kVA/100kWh energy storage units.
The US-headquartered firm will provide and install 20 so-called Grid Utility Support Systems (GUSS) units to improve quality and reliability of electricity supply to Queensland utility Ergon Energy’s rural customers on constrained single wire high voltage distribution voltage lines, known as SWER (Single Wire Earth Return).
The GUSS units will comprise of S&C Electric’s 25kVA/100kWh PureWave Community Energy System. Ergon says GUSS units could reduce SWER network augmentation costs by more than 35 per cent on current estimates.
“Traditional augmentation solutions to constrained SWER lines where demand on that line is exceeding its capabilities can cost in excess of A$2m ($1.75m),” said Ergon chief executive Ian McLeod. “GUSS units are not only a quicker solution than traditional network augmentation, but the money we can save will ultimately put downward pressure on electricity prices.”
Ergon operates around 65,000km of SWER network servicing more than 26,000 customers. Ergon predicts it could be deploying many hundreds of GUSS units across its SWER network in coming years.
The first production units are expected to be built later this year.
