Battery storage wins South Australia firming tender, outperforming gas generators

Battery storage technology has triumphed again over fossil gas generators after scooping the pool in an open tender designed to deliver firm supply at times of system stress in Australia's most advanced renewable grid.

The so-called 'firming tender' – announced by the South Australia government last October – was open to both flexible gas generators and big batteries that could demonstrate at least eight hours of storage.

The tender – officially known as the Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism – was designed specifically to ensure supply was available to the market at times of system stress.