By Clement Venter
Australia is witnessing a surge in battery energy storage system (BESS) projects as we accelerate our transition to renewable energy.
Driven by increasing electricity demand and grid stability concerns, BESS installations are rapidly expanding to support the growing share of solar and wind power.
Investors, energy developers, and policymakers are recognising the crucial role of large-scale storage in balancing supply and demand, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and enhancing grid reliability. This sudden growth reflects both technological advancements and the urgent need for a more resilient, decarbonised energy system, positioning Australia as a leader in energy storage innovation.
Recognising the urgent need to accelerate BESS project development, Arche Energy has developed BESS Auto™, a cutting-edge design software package that streamlines the concept design process.
This innovative tool can generate a comprehensive BESS concept design within minutes, requiring only limited inputs from the user. By leveraging advanced algorithms and automation, the software processes site-specific data to produce tailored layouts, equipment bill of materials, and key engineering calculations. This breakthrough significantly reduces the time and effort required for early-stage feasibility assessments, allowing developers to quickly evaluate project viability, optimise system configurations, and fast-track the transition from concept to execution.
Methodology
Using Google Earth, we first trace the boundary of the BESS development site and generate a KML file defining the area. This KML is then uploaded into BESS Auto™, where key project parameters such as battery and inverter models, expected power factor, project lifespan, and daily cycle requirements are selected.
The software automatically calculates the distance to the nearest substation, identifies the connection voltage, and retrieves the local annual temperature profile for the site. It then proceeds to analyse critical performance metrics, including round-trip efficiency, usable discharging capacity, charge and discharge durations, available energy at the connection point, and battery degradation. The software also generates auto-configured output data and CAD files for the entire project area, providing a solid foundation for further layout refinements.
The development site chosen for this example was an irregular shaped lot near Rocklea’s industrial area, where a 1,000MW BESS project could be developed and connected to Powerlink’s Rocklea 275kV Substation. This, however, excludes consideration for connection and developmental applications and site studies such as hydrology, geotechnical, bushfire risk, noise assessment, cultural heritage, traffic, land contamination, and other related studies required.
Selecting the concept site, exporting the KML file from Google Earth, creating the project in BESS Auto™ and exporting the results took less than 5 minutes.
Although this is just a fictitious project, a viable concept design was obtained in a fraction of the time it would have taken to do manually.
BESS Auto™ opens the possibility for developers to screen sites or EPCs to develop concept designs for costing considerable faster than normal, saving time and money, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
