Wärtsilä, delivery of exceptional smart technology across the marine and energy markets is having an extraordinary impact today with their announcement. The firm hopes to ship the first of its innovative energy storage system down under this year. Scheduled to be up and running by 2028, this project is Wärtsilä’s second DC-coupled project in the country. The new system aims to power up to 120,000 homes and businesses while supporting Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2045.
This energy storage system represents a significant advancement in renewable technology, integrating solar generation with battery storage through an innovative DC/DC converter. By using this DC-coupled method, the project reduces energy losses and captures solar energy that would otherwise be lost to curtailment. Wärtsilä expects to finalize and book this order in Q4 2025. With this move, it will make its entrance into the largest such DC-coupled hybrid battery system in the national electricity market.
Impact on the Energy Landscape
Wärtsilä currently has 1.5GW of total capacity installed across its nine battery energy storage installations. This extraordinary ability is the key to providing additional grid-stabilizing capabilities the country’s electricity grid desperately needs.
As a hybrid power plant controller, the GEMS solution will enable a smooth integration between the solar farm and storage system. This integration is crucial to meeting growing energy demand with clean, affordable and reliable energy. David Hebert, Director of Business Development at Wärtsilä, stressed the significance of this initiative when he said,
“The project is a prime example of how hybrid renewable energy and storage solutions can help stabilise Australia’s grid while advancing decarbonisation goals.”
This project is likely to be the new benchmark for future commercial developments in Australia’s burgeoning renewable energy sector.
Technological Breakthrough
Adoption of DC-coupled technology represents a major milestone for hybrid renewable plants. This approach focuses on maximizing efficient, grid-scale energy transfer, as well as flexibility to combine renewables and other generation more dynamically. Hebert remarked,
“It’s particularly exciting to work on the largest DC-coupled project in the country; DC-coupled technology is a breakthrough for hybrid renewable plants and a critical step towards establishing a financially viable renewable energy future.”
The sheer scale of this project serves to underscore the increasing need for such technology, as the country advances toward a larger-scale implementation of renewable energy.
Commitment to Sustainability
Wärtsilä’s initiative goes hand-in-hand with these global movements to fight climate change through the provision of sustainable energy solutions. Through its collaborative approach, the company is making great strides in directly reducing carbon emissions. Simultaneously, it’s creating good-paying jobs, bolstering our energy security, and fueling long-term economic growth. Wärtsilä is firm in delivering a lifecycle of operational efficiency and reliability. The 20-year service agreement signed for this design-build project underscores that commitment.
David Hebert noted the significance of this undertaking, stating,
“This project is significantly larger than our earlier DC-coupled project, underscoring the need for this type of technology in expanding at scale.”