Rangebank FAQ

Your questions, answered.

FAQ

What is the Rangebank BESS?

The Rangebank BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) is an industrial scale BESS to be located in Cranbourne West, Victoria, Australia and will provide 200MWh/400MWh capacity of flexible and reliable energy services.

Rangebank BESS, named after the Rangebank Business Park (where it is located) will be connected to the electricity grid through the adjacent Cranbourne Terminal Station, which is operated by AusNet.

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Why is it being constructed in Cranbourne?

The Rangebank BESS will help to stabilise Victoria’s state electricity supply by providing additional storage capacity and enabling discharge of supply at times of peak demand. Batteries have a vital role to play in the energy transition, addressing the intermittency of renewables and providing important system stability. Cranbourne Terminal Station is a major sub-station in Victoria’s electricity network providing an ideal point to connect to the grid for a BESS.

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Will there be any impact on the local community through the construction of the battery?

The BESS is to be constructed within an industrial area at the emerging Rangebank Business Park. Care has been taken to ensure the BESS is sited appropriately within the local context. The approved development application is supported by an Acoustic report and Preliminary Hazard Assessment which outlines appropriate design and management measures, including acoustic walls and vegetation screening. To better identify and address issues or queries about the development, a copy of the endorsed Complaint Investigation and Response Plan, along with a toll-free telephone number and email contact for queries to the project team, can be found here.

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When will construction begin and be completed?

Construction of the battery is scheduled to begin in 2023, with completion expected in late 2024.

What does a BESS do?

Battery technology is an essential element in the decarbonisation of the energy sector, providing firming for solar and wind, and vital grid stability services. BESS are a key technology to provide firming capacity to the grid and provide a reliable source of energy as Australia reduces its reliance on centrally generated fossil fuel electricity. BESS also provide grid stability and can help to power up the grid in an event of a blackout. The Rangebank BESS can provide 200 MW of dispatchable power over two hours.This is equivalent to: • The capacity to power the equivalent of approximately 80,000 homes across Victoria for an hour during peak periods.  • The capacity to provide approximately 5 hours of average household energy consumption of all the dwellings in Cranbourne.

What is the lifespan of the BESS?

A BESS is typically designed to last 20 years, which can be extended with maintenance and replacement of some components of the facility.

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What technology does the BESS use?

The Fluence BESS solution is based on lithium-ion battery energy storage technology.

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What noise can be expected during construction?

Please refer to the ‘Planning’ page for an overview of construction and operational noise from the development.

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What are the visual impacts from this development?

The Rangebank BESS will be located within the Rangebank Business Park. The Rangebank BESS will include the construction of boundary noise attenuation walls and vegetation buffers around the BESS site.

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What approvals has the project received to enable its construction?

The Rangebank BESS has received all relevant state and local planning approvals.

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How can I raise a query or make a complaint?

Please contact us here.

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Privacy - Your personal information will be used for the purpose for which it was provided to us. This may include using or permitting our affiliates to use your personal information for related purposes to the extent that it is lawful to do so without your express permission; or – where it is lawful and with your permission if necessary – share personal information with companies we do business with (e.g. in project arrangements or distribution arrangements). Further details how your personal information will be treated are set out in Fluence’s privacy policy. Please read these policies to understand in further detail how your personal information will be treated if collected as part of the Rangebank BESS Project.