Neon to build one of the world's largest batteries in Australia

Neoen has been awarded a 250 MW grid services contract with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) in a competitive tender initiated by the Victorian Government. The services will be provided by Neoen’s future 300 MW Victorian Big Battery, set to become one of the largest batteries in the world. The battery storage facility will be located next to Moorabool Terminal Station in Geelong, Victoria. It will be delivered in collaboration with Tesla, using its Megapack technology, and network partner AusNet Services.

This System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) contract with AEMO will run until 2032 and is the result of the SIPS 2020 procurement process initiated by the Victorian Government. It will unlock up to an additional 250 MW of peak capacity on the existing Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) over the next decade of Australian summers. Under the contract, the battery will provide an automatic response in the event of an unexpected network outage, providing AEMO with an additional means of ensuring grid stability. The battery will also participate in the National Electricity Market and support increased penetration of renewables in Victoria through network services such as fast frequency control.

The Victorian Big Battery will help to modernise and stabilise the grid in Victoria and will be instrumental in helping the State reach its objective of 50% renewables by 2030. Independent analysis shows that for every $1 invested the battery will deliver more than $2 in benefits to Victorian households and businesses.

The battery, which is targeted to be operational by the end of 2021, will also deliver a significant economic boost to the Geelong region, creating over 80 construction jobs and 6 full time permanent jobs. Education initiatives will also be supported across the project’s lifetime through a Community Benefit Fund.