New Australian developer targets big batteries with four projects in NSW and Victoria

Sydney-based renewable energy developer Avenis Energy is getting in on the big battery party with four lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in development in Victoria and New South Wales.

The leadership team behind Avenis Energy, which was founded in early 2023, boasts over 60 years of experience and has collectively successfully developed over 1GW of renewable energy projects across Australia.

While Avenis is aiming to develop solar, wind, and BESS projects, the developer is starting out with four big battery projects which, once completed and operational, will boast total power capacity of 840MW and storage capacity of 3360MWh, or four hours of storage capacity each.

The most advanced of these projects already under development is a 120MW/480MWh BESS in Deniliquin, located in the western Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, located 6km south-east of the town centre.

Set to be built on an approximately 7-hectare development site and connect directly into the 132kV Deniliquin Sub-station, located to the north-west on an adjacent site, the Deniliquin BESS is designed to assist the national electrical grid at times of peak demand and in times of emergency.

The Deniliquin BESS has already been designated a state significant development (SSD) by the NSW government, and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was already placed on public exhibition by the state planning authority in January.

Avenis Energy is also developing a second 120MW/480MWh BESS in NSW, located at Moree in northern NSW, in the Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP).

The project is expected to be built on privately owned land adjacent to the Moree Zone Sub-station and will provide energy storage capacity for current and future renewable energy generators within the north-western NSW electricity network.

A further two projects to be built in Victoria are currently in similarly early stages of development, including the Winton BESS within Victoria’s Central North Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

The 120MW/480MWh BESS is expected to provide energy storage capacity for current and future renewable energy generators within the REZ as well as providing grid stability for the wider national electricity market.

The second Victorian BESS will be built in nearby Grahamvale, but unlike the other three projects, Avenis Energy is thinking much bigger – to the tune of 480MW capacity and 1,920MWh duration.

The Grahamvale BESS, set to be built northeast of Shepparton City Center, within Victoria’s Central North Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), is being designed to provide energy storage capacity for current and future renewable energy generators within the AusNet electricity network.

The project will also provide increased grid stability to the wider national electricity market and will connect directly into the 220kV Shepparton Terminal Sub-station.

Both Winton and Grahamvale, like Moree, are in the preparation of development application stage. Avenis is also currently in the process of undertaking technical assessments to assist in preparation of the Grahamvale project’s EIS which will be submitted as part of the development approval process.

See also Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map for more information.