Maoneng to build 550 MW solar farm with 400MW/1,600MWh Energy Storage project in Australia

Maoneng has unveiled details of a proposed energy hub consisting of a 550 MWac solar farm and a 400MW / 1,600MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The project will be located south of Merriwa, in the Upper Hunter Shire Council area about 180km northwest of Newcastle, New South Wales.

The AUD 1.6 billion (US$1.1 billion) project comprises 1.3 million photovoltaic solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers spread across 780 hectares of land, associated buildings, and infrastructure. It would also involve the construction of a substation directly connecting to the NEM via TransGrid’s existing 500kV transmission line that runs along the south of the site.

The project intends to address the regional energy supply and grid stability needs of the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Once approved, construction of the solar farm and battery is expected to take 18 months, creating up to 500 full-time equivalent jobs during the peak of activity, and requiring up to 20 permanent operational staff for the 35-year life of the project.