Doubts grow over giant battery plan to cut blackout risk

It was a key selling point of the Andrews government's plan to head off the risk of blackouts and energy price spikes in Victoria this summer.

Grid-scale batteries can store renewable energy
 to be used at times of peak demand. 

Two giant batteries would provide four hours of reserve power for a population roughly equal to that of Ballarat and Bendigo.

They were announced in July with much fanfare and the assistance of former US vice-president Al Gore.

The 20-megawatt batteries were to have been built and switched on in the state's west by January or earlier.

So where are they?

Time is running out to have them installed and in use by this summer, increasing pressure on the state's strained power supply.

Read Adam Carey’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Doubts grow over giant battery plan to cut blackout risk.”