AGL, RayGen launch world’s largest next-generation long duration energy storage

It has a 4 MW solar capacity and 2.8 MW/50 MWh storage capacity.

Australia’s AGL and energy technology group RayGen started the operations of RayGen’s solar-plus storage plant in Carwarp in Victoria, installing the largest next-generation long-duration energy storage plant globally.

In a statement, AGL said the RayGen Carwarp Power Plant has a capacity of 4 megawatts (MW) of solar and 2.8 MW/50 MW-hour (17 hours) of storage capacity which will be connected to the West Murray grid.

The power plant, which is powered using a field of smart, rotational mirrors whose concentrated solar energy, is combined with the energy stored across two water reservoirs, creates a “hot and cold” solar hydro solution.

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The power plant is expected to save around 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually and can provide power to around 1,700 average Victorian homes.

“This innovative approach to long-duration energy storage using concentrated PV and thermal hydro storage greatly improves the efficiency and economics of solar plus storage, providing a potential solution for long-duration energy storage,” said AGL COO Markus Brokhof.  

“This plant will supply synchronous power with a view to increasing the capacity and flexibility of the local electricity grid,” he said. “We believe this technology has the potential to be deployed at greater scale and we are progressing our plans for a similar solar-plus-thermal storage plant with RayGen at our Liddell site in the Upper Hunter, NSW.”