Construction has officially commenced on the first large-scale battery energy storage system in the New England region of New South Wales. The project is being developed alongside the 720MW New England Solar Farm, which remains the largest solar project in Australia.
Acen Australia, a subsidiary of Philippine-based energy giant ACEN Corporation, is overseeing the development of the 200MW/400MWh battery, which will be constructed in two stages. Energy Vault, a California-based and Swiss-domiciled energy storage company, has been awarded the contract for construction, marking another major contract win for the firm.
The New England project has already received planning approval for a total battery storage capacity of 1,400MW/2,800MWh, with an option to scale up in the future to provide additional energy storage and ancillary services. However, Acen Australia has indicated it will assess the performance of the initial battery system before moving forward with any expansion.
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Once operational, the first phase of the battery system will provide on-demand energy to consumers across both New South Wales and Queensland. The integration of advanced grid-forming inverters will enhance system strength, stability, and network services.
Technological Advancements and Industry Impact
Energy Vault Vice President of Sales Asia, Lucas Sadler, emphasized the significance of the project for the evolving battery storage market in Australia.
“There’s a lot of attention worldwide on the battery storage market in Australia, and we’re very happy to be making a positive contribution here on such an important project,” Sadler said. “We will be using lithium-ion technology, coupled with a special inverter that enables advanced grid support functionalities such as voltage and frequency ridethrough, grid support during disturbances, and reactive power control.”
Energy Vault is also developing additional battery projects across Australia, including the 100MW/200MWh battery adjacent to the Horsham Solar Farm in Victoria, as well as early-stage projects at Stoney Creek and Meadow Creek.
Infrastructure and Implementation Timeline
To facilitate the battery’s integration, an expanded switching yard is being constructed to connect to Transgrid’s transmission network. Civil work on the site is expected to be completed by mid-2025, with battery modules scheduled for delivery in the second half of the year.
Additionally, a 250MVA electrical transformer weighing 261 tonnes is set to be transported to the site in March. High-voltage connection specialist EPEC has been contracted to oversee the installation and commissioning of the transformer.
Government Support and Regional Benefits
The project is receiving financial backing from the New South Wales government’s Emerging Energy Program, a $75 million initiative designed to support the development of large-scale electricity and storage infrastructure. The solar component, the first 400MW stage of which has already been completed, is also supported by a 20-year underwriting agreement with the NSW government.
Tim Greenaway, Acen Australia’s Head of Construction and Engineering, highlighted the importance of the project for both the region and the national grid.
“This is the first large-scale battery storage project to be built in New England, so this is a great milestone for the region and the National Electricity Market,” Greenaway said. “We’ll have workers and contractors on site from Uralla, Tamworth, and Armidale, supported by teams from Queensland, South Australia, and other parts of NSW.”
For more information, visit Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia.
