germany's sonnen to set up a battery plant in south australia - lithium battery for solar lights

Melbourne, February 22 (Reuters)-
German battery maker Songnen Limited will set up a battery manufacturing center in South Australia this year to tap what it sees as the world's fastest growing market for solar roof storage, Australia's general manager said on Thursday.
Chris Parratt said that once the plant is built in six to nine months, it will produce about 10,000 solar cells a year in the first five years.
Sonnen is the world's largest producer of household batteries and solar storage systems.
"We believe Australia will be the largest storage market in the next five years," Parratt told Reuters . ".
"Germany is by far the largest.
We believe, however, that given the conditions in Australia: high energy prices;
A rich society;
High penetration rate of solar energy;
These things add up.
"Sonnen will import batteries that are not made in Australia and the rest will depend on local supply.
The company did not say how much money it would invest in South Australia.
Sonnen will also be the second battery manufacturer to set up a "virtual power plant" in South Australia, which last summer saw a chain reaction of massive power outages forcing mining giants BHP Billiton and aluminum to suspend production.
The battery unit installed by Sonnen will be connected together as a power bank that absorbs energy when there is excess energy and releases it to the grid when there is insufficient energy.
The South Australian Labor Party had previously hired entrepreneur Elon Musk to make the world's largest lithium-ion battery, which was put into use in December 1. On the first day of the summer, power the state's crumbling grid in time.
The state government announced this week that it will raise its renewable energy generation target to 75% by 2025 and launch a 25% renewable energy storage target. (
Melanie Burton reports
Editor Tom Hogg)