State Energy Plan

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:59): My question is to the Premier. Premier, what response have we seen from South Australian and international energy companies to the government's energy plan?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for his question. Yesterday, I attended the Tonsley innovation district once again to discuss preparations for the delivery of South Australia's big battery project, with representatives from a South Australian-based renewable energy company, ZEN Energy, and US-based energy storage software and integration company, Greensmith.

ZEN Energy is one of many companies that have publicly expressed an interest in bidding for the big battery project and, if they are successful, they will partner with Greensmith to develop it. The state government has opened a two-week expression of interest process, which will allow national and international companies to express an interest in building Australia's largest grid-level battery storage. That EOI, as I said, closes on 31 March.

The documentation has been incredibly popular. It's an unprecedented level of downloads for a procurement in South Australia, showing the enormous interest in this project. Greensmith installed 40 per cent of the American battery capacity last year and recently completed a 90 megawatt hour project in California, which is comparable with what will be delivered here in South Australia. The grid-connected battery will help store energy from the wind and sun and provide us with the storage capacity necessary to meet peak demand. It will also increase stability in our electricity grid.

The presence of the battery, which will be the largest grid-scale battery in Australia, will also increase competition in the market by allowing the private operator to store renewable energy and supply it to the market at strategic times. Grid-level battery storage is at the cutting edge of renewable technology, with falling costs and capabilities increasing.

The fact that we have global companies like Greensmith willing to partner with local companies like ZEN shows that our $550 million energy plan has hit the mark. Not only will it improve reliability, put downward pressure on prices and create jobs but it will also mean that we will become recognised internationally as the leaders in providing innovative solutions to a problem that is facing not just South Australia and the nation but the world.