Redflow lands big new battery order for off-grid Kangaroo Island icon

Redflow has landed its first large-scale commercial order for its newly launched third generation of zinc bromide flow batteries, inking a deal to supply a total of 56 Gen3 ZBMs to help power the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, in South Australia.

The Southern Ocean Lodge is being redeveloped after it was destroyed in the catastrophic bushfires of January 2020. In resurrecting the award-winning property, the owners have put environmental sustainability and energy resilience at the core of the redesign.

To this end, Redflow says it has been working closely with Adelaide based system integrator MyEnergy Engineering to develop the specifications for the energy storage part of the hybrid renewable microgrid, that will combine a large solar array with smart controls and diesel generation back-up.

With no permanent grid power supply and an ecological site surrounded by native bush, Redflow’s 560kWh battery energy storage system was selected for the job for its 100% depth-of-discharge capability and its chemical make-up being inherently fire retardant.

For the Brisbane-based battery maker, the BESS at the Southern Ocean Lodge microgrid marks the first large-scale deployment of its new generation Gen3 zinc bromine battery in Australia, just weeks after its long-awaited official launch.

“We are thrilled to have been selected as the energy storage technology for such a landmark destination and look forward to working with systems integrator MyEnergy Engineering on the implementation,” said Redflow CEO Tim Harris.

“The batteries are expected to be delivered before the end of the year and the positive earnings recognised shortly afterwards.

“We hope that this project is the first of  many in Australia as we accelerate this country’s move towards a net zero carbon future.”

MyEnergy Engineering managing director Ciaram Granger said the hybrid renewable energy system had been designed to incorporate the “very large” Redflow battery bank to maximise solar storage and minimise the use of the diesel generators.

“We have been working with Redflow for  some time now to finalise designs for this unique site and we look forward to seeing Southern Ocean Lodge  back in operation in 2023,” Granger said.