A utility scale battery being built next to Australia’s biggest solar project is nearing completion, and is already running at near full capacity at times as it puts the finishing touches to final grid approvals.
The 200 megawatt (MW), 400 megawatt hour (MWh) New England battery is being built next to the New England solar farm, which has already completed its first 400 MW stage and is developing its second 320 MW stage, which will make it the biggest in the country – at least for a while.
Acen Renewables, the Philippines-based project owne of the New England projects, said in its second quarter earnings report released earlier this month that the battery is expected to reach full “operationalisation” by the end of the year.
The project builder, the US-based Energy Vault, gave more details in its own earnings report last week, saying it has nearly completed its R2 assessment, which is the post-commissioning model validation and testing stage for new power generators or large loads connecting to the power grid.Â
“So we’re finalising now the turnover and what’s called in Australia the R2, meaning the R2 is the milestone where you’ve actually gotten the grid sign off formally,” Energy Vault CEO Robert Piconi told analysts.
“It’s an important milestone for us there because having that now will enable us to actually bid on larger projects in the (Australian) market.”
Energy Vault is also building the 125 MW, 1,000 MWh Stoney Creek battery near Narrabri, and currently has another joint venture project, the 100 MW, 870 MWh Ebor battery, also in the New England region, going through planning approvals.
Meanwhile, Acen Australia says it generation, revenues and profits all rose in the first half of the year, thanks to the full contributions from the recently completed 400 MW Stubbo solar farm, and the reduced grid curtailment experienced by the New England solar farm.
Generation rose 56 per cent to 862 gigawatt hours (GWh) during the period, attributable revenues rose 59 per cent to P2.2 billion and EBITDA rose 35 percent ₱1.2 billion.
Acen is also working on the 102 MW dc Jinbi solar project in Western Australia, which is expected to be completed in late 2028 after breaking ground in the quarter. It has a huge pipeline of projects, including the Valley of the Winds and Robbins Island projects that are yet to reach financial close or start construction.
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