BESS explainer - video transcript

Duration: 32 seconds
Narration: Male voiceover

[Video begins]

[Description]: We see a map of Victoria and transmission towers connect the states QLD, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and SA.

[Voiceover]:The National Electricity Market is one of the world's longest interconnected power systems, spanning QLD, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and SA.

[Voiceover]: This complex system is rapidly changing as coal fired power generation is phased out

[Description]: We see an outline of a city and some coal fired power plants appear in the foreground. 

[Voiceover]: and we move towards a clean energy future. Renewable energy like wind and solar create energy at certain times, such as when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. Sometimes the amount of wind and solar generated creates more energy than the system needs.

[Description]: An animation of wind turbines amid green grass, solar panels and battery is seen replacing the previous scene. 

[Voiceover]: Battery storage allows this excess energy to be captured and stored for when the community needs it most, which is often at the start and end of the day.

[Description]: We see an animation of the map of Australia with solar generated houses in each state connecting to a battery. 

[Voiceover]: Batteries also have an important role to play in stabilising the energy grid as stable and reliable system can maintain the supply of electricity even when unexpected events occur. Big batteries help stabilise the electricity grid by providing a reserve of energy that can be used if there is an unexpected failure in the system, such as if an energy generator goes offline. In these situations, batteries can provide the system with large amounts of power quickly to stabilise the network and prevent people from losing power.

[Description]: We see an animation of some batteries powering buildings. 

[Voiceover]: This function is important to ensure the grid is stable as we transition from ageing coal fired power generators to a renewable energy future. Batteries also helped the network maintain a constant frequency of 50 Hertz, which is important for ensuring a reliable network. This may sound simple, but many things can impact it, such as more electricity coming in or out of the grid due to the weather events, such as increased or decreased cloud or wind, or from unexpected

[Description]: We see a split screen of 3 different animations; two power lines with a lightening bold down the middle, wind turbines under an overcast sky, and a woman holding a remote to the air conditioning. 

[Voiceover]: high demand events including extreme heat or cold fronts. So in summary, big batteries provide many benefits to the community, from providing more responsive and reliable energy to the network, increasing grid stability, providing instantaneous backup power when required, and helping to facilitate a smooth transition to a clean energy future.

[Description]: We see a network of wind turbines, batteries and solar panels connecting the states of Australia, before fading out to the Ausnet logo.