Powercor’s $8 million Buninyong battery still remains out of action despite the company aiming to have the back-up power source running for summer.
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The South Korean-built battery which is the largest in the country was unveiled in March 2016, but has sat idle since May following noise complaints from neighbours.
Powercor since pledged to install noise barriers around the 12-metre battery to ensure it meets the Environment Protection Authority’s guide for noise in regional Victoria.
A Powercor spokesperson said the company intended on conducting tests on the battery in February before becoming fully operational.
“The work to install the noise treatments is in progress with most of the foundation work completed,” the spokesperson said.
“While most of the noise treatment works have been completed, we made a commitment to the community that we would not commence noise testing until the noise treatments have been fully installed.”
When fully functioning the battery is expected to provide a back-up power source for 3000 customers in the region. Powercor had originally planned to make the power source fully operational by mid-2016.
The battery caused further controversy in April when flame retardant spilled onto neighbouring properties days after it was first switched on.