About the Fund
The $50 million Grid Scale Storage Fund is one of the key components of the South Australian Government’s energy policy.
It aims to accelerate the roll-out of grid-scale energy storage infrastructure and address the intermittency of South Australia’s electricity supplies.
The Fund will target projects that help address some of the key challenges that are having cost impacts on South Australia’s power system, now and into the future.
The Fund is technology neutral. Some examples of eligible technologies include pumped hydro energy storage, hydrogen and natural gas storage, solar thermal and battery storage.
As well as improving energy affordability, reliability and security, successful projects will create jobs and boost local industry development.
There will be one round of applications, with a closing date of Thursday, 7 February 2019. Successful applications are expected to be announced by mid-2019.
New applicants will not be accepted after the closing date.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
There are two categories of projects eligible for Grid Scale Storage Fund grants.
- Distributed storage (Stream 1) - targeting behind-the-meter projects in commercial and industrial facilities (including mining operations) or in the distribution network, which will commence full commercial operations within two years of receiving support from the Fund.
- Centralised (bulk) storage (Stream 2) - targeting projects located upstream in the electricity network that will commence full commercial operations within four years of receiving support from the Fund.
Co-funding
Applications shortlisted for the Grid Scale Storage Fund may be eligible for co-funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) under its ARENA Advancing Renewables Program (ARP).
Applicants seeking co-funding from the Fund and the ARP must submit separate applications to the Fund and the ARP.
How do I apply?
Download the Investment Guidelines PDF for more information about the Fund, eligibility criteria and potential for co-funding by ARENA.
Proposals must be submitted using the Grid Scale Storage Fund Proposal Template (DOCX) and Grid Scale Storage Fund Data Book (XLSX)
Submit your application, using the Proposal Template and associated Data Book, no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday, 7 February 2019. Please note, the maximum file size for all final Proposals is 20 MB.
Applicants should note that the Data Book was updated on 31 January 2019.
When completing the worksheet tab titled CAPEX, please provide your best estimate of nominal costs taking into account the effects of escalation (e.g. inflation) assumed for each item specified in column F.
If you have any questions, please email DEM staff at sastoragefund@sa.gov.au
Successful applicants are expected to be notified by mid-2019.
Contact
All proposals must be submitted to the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) via email at sastoragefund@sa.gov.au.
DEM staff are available to discuss funding applications at sastoragefund@sa.gov.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
