Cooperation Agreement signed for development of 200 MW/400 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in Australia

ACEN Australia (of the Ayala Group) and Marubeni Asian Power Singapore signed a Cooperation Agreement for the joint development of a 200 MW/400 MWh (2-hour) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in New South Wales, Australia. 

The agreement commits the parties to work together on the delivery of the BESS facility. The 50-50 partnership has a projected investment amount of AU$250 million (US$166.25 million) with a target completion by 2025.

The project will be co-located with the 720 MW New England Solar and battery project currently being built in stages near Uralla in the New South Wales (NSW) New England region. Stage 1 of the solar facility (400 MW) commenced generating clean, renewable electricity in NSW and Queensland in 2023. Stage 2 will start construction in 2024. This agreement marks the initial stage of the battery of 200 MW, with potential for significant future expansion. 

Transgrid Group’s contestable business Lumea will connect the grid-forming BESS to the grid, supporting a secure energy supply as the network transitions from aging coal fire power stations to new renewable generation and energy storage.