Big Battery Plan Pushback From Corangamite Shire Council

Just as one renewables-related saga in Victoria’s Corangamite Shire ends, another may be beginning – this time in relation to a proposed big battery.

Tilt Renewables has proposed a 196 MW / 392 MWh battery project in Terang, which is around 212 kilometres south- west of Melbourne and situated within the Southwest Victoria Renewable Energy Zone. The Dalvui Battery Energy Storage System would be located just east of the existing Terang Terminal Station.

The Dalvui BESS is to store off- peak power for use during peak periods to help maintain reliable energy supply. The $235 million project would involve $24.3 million in investment retained locally. 150 direct and 240 indirect jobs would be created during construction, and up to 7 direct and 20 jobs during operations.

Tilt Renewables has committed to “open and honest dialogue” with all stakeholders. This is particularly important in Corangamite Shire as they’ve proven to be a pretty tough crowd – demonstrated during the Bookaar Solar Farm saga.

“We aim to build and enhance community acceptance and trust in all projects and in the renewable energy industry as a whole,” says Tilt Renewables. “We are committed to giving back to and enhancing our host communities by sharing the benefits of all our projects, including the Dalvui BESS.”

Those commitments are now being put to the test.  Tilt Renewables has lodged a planning permit application for the Dalvui BESS with Victoria’s Minister for Planning, and the notice period concludes on 27 July 2022.

Corangamite Shire Council Concerns

At its meeting last night, Corangamite Shire Council reportedly resolved to adopt a draft submission to be sent to the Minister for Planning (Lizzie Blandthorn) outlining Council’s various concerns. Among them is Tilt Renewables allegedly remaining silent in their planning application regarding delivery and implementation of any community benefits program.

A significant concern is the space this project will occupy and its impact on residential housing. The draft submission states:

“The location of the Terang Terminal Station (TGTS) within the area should not automatically mean that the site is a suitable location for another BESS. Council is acutely aware of the low housing supply and vacancy rates across its townships, including Terang, and this presents an important area for future residential growth.”

Council is also a bit cranky about planning-related issues generally:

“No longer should ad-hoc large-scale development occur in absence of, or without, alignment with strategic plans, along with State, regional and local priorities,” states the submission.

Other concerns are the usual suspects including noise, traffic during construction, fire risks, landscape and visual impact. Just in terms of the latter, the following are a couple of renderings of the project without and with the acoustic barrier, as viewed from the Princes Highway.

Council asserts a project of this nature will encourage of more of the same within a concentrated area ” at the detriment of our community, amenity, natural landscape and environmental resources.”

Council Big On Gas

Something made pretty clear in the draft is the Council’s affinity for gas. It aims to prioritise and support the existing gas industry, whilst also investigating opportunities for both green and blue hydrogen generation. “Green” hydrogen is produced using renewables as the energy source, while “blue” hydrogen is derived from natural gas through steam methane reforming – and that’s a problem.

If the Minister for Planning gives the Dalvui Battery Energy Storage System a green light, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of things as the decision can then be appealed via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Council’s draft submission and accompanying report can be viewed here (starts on page 20).

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/dalvui-battery-corangamite-mb2570/