Akaysha presses go on two hour big battery next to Brisbane sewage works

Akaysha Energy, the battery storage developer backed by global funds management giant BlackRock, is to build a big two hour battery in Brisbane, next to a major sewage works, after reaching a final investment decision on Tuesday.

The announcement comes amid a flood of big battery storage project deals, including two giant eight-hour batteries that won the latest NSW tender for long duration storage, and AGL also reaching FiD on the Liddell 1,000 MWh battery, which will be the biggest in Australia featuring grid forming inverters.

The new Akaysha project is the 205MW, two hour (410 MWh) Brendale battery in Brisbane, to be built on a site owned by Unitywater, next to its Brendale sewage works and the South Pine substation, and which will feature Tesla Megapack technology and be built by Consolidated Power Projects.

Akaysha says the Brendale battery (see artist’s rendition above) will provide ancillary services, energy arbitrage and frequency control services in the market, and says it will help it create innovative off-take agreements. Construction will start in 2024, with operations beginning in 2025.

Akaysha has rapidly built up an impressive portfolio of battery storage projects, with its flagship being the 850 MW, and 1680 MWh Waratah Super Battery, which will play a critical role as a sort of “giant shock absorber” after the anticipated closure of the Eraring coal fired power generator.

The company has also won a contract under the new Capacity Investment Scheme for the Orana four hour battery (415 MW and 1660 MWh) in the central west of NSW, and is also developing the 255 MW (300 MWh) Ulinda Park big battery in Queensland.

“The Brendale BESS FID is another significant milestone for Akaysha Energy in 2023,” Akaysha CEO Nick Carter said in a statement posted on LinkedIn on Tuesday

“The Brendale Battery is an important element of Akaysha Energy’s flexible portfolio across not only Queensland but the NEM (National Electricity Market more generally.”

Akaysha’s Tony Fullelove also revealed the company is developing another big battery at Wurdong Heights, near Gladstone, which has a nominal capacity of 400 MW and 1600 MWh, but could also be configured to provide up to eight hours storage.

“This is yet another BESS project in the state of Queensland which supports the transition to clean energy,” He said. “With Brendale, Ulinda Park and Wurdong BESS all under development, it’s clear the Queensland energy sector is serious about the transition and how it benefits the people of Queensland.”

See RenewEconomy’s updated Big Battery Storage Map of Australia