Renewables

Investment giant snaps up 1 GW solar and battery portfolio of retreating oil supermajor

Published by

Aula Energy, the renewables dedicated offshoot of finance giant Macquarie, has emerged as the buyer of Lightsource bp’s solar and storage portfolio in Australia, after snapping up a 1 gigawatt swag of operational PV projects with options to develop up to 800 megawatts of co-located big batteries.

Aula on Monday announced the “strategic acquisition” of the five Lightsource bp solar farms, establishes the company’s first operating fleet across the National Electricity Market.

The solar projects include West Wyalong, Wellington and Wellington North in New South Wales, Wunghnu in Victoria, and Woolooga in Queensland. Each solar project has an option to develop a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS).

Lightsource bp has reportedly been seeking a new home for the portfolio of assets for some time, as part of the global pivot back to fossil fuels being taken by its parent company, the global oil and gas supermajor, bp.

The solar farms balance out Aula’s existing portfolio of mostly wind and battery projects, including the Boulder Creek wind farm that the company is developing in central Queensland, and the Carmody’s Hill wind farm in South Australia, which reached financial close in the final weeks of 2025 – and has plans to add a battery.

In Western Australia, Aula has partnered with Perth-based Green Wind Renewables to develop a portfolio of large-scale wind farms totalling up to 2.4 gigawatts (GW).

“Today’s announcement marks another significant milestone in Aula Energy’s growth journey,” Aula CEO Chad Hymas said on Monday.

“We are building a business supported by strategic partners who can grow with us. …This acquisition strengthens our ability to support Australia’s energy transition while creating long term value for our shareholders and communities.

“For the solar farms acquired, day to day activities on site will continue as usual. We want customers, the local community, landholders and Traditional Owners to know that we value the strong foundations already in place. Our focus is on maintaining open communication and ensuring clear points of contact with the change of ownership,” Hymas said.

Sophie Vorrath

Sophie is editor of Renew Economy and editor of its sister site, One Step Off The Grid . She is the co-host of the Solar Insiders Podcast. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Energy Insiders: Grid scale sodium batteries are on their way

The battery industry is about to witness another change in chemistry and technology. Valo Energy…

16 October 2026

“Just a fantasy:” Energy minister slams Opposition gas and nuclear ideas, vows to hold the line on renewables

Energy minister says imminent closure of coal is "indisputable," and "ideology-driven" policies to scrap transmission…

16 October 2026

Supplier to Australia’s biggest battery expects to announce first sodium-ion battery project soon

The supplier to the biggest battery currently being built in Australia expects to announce its…

16 October 2026

Wind projects will need help “for a while”, says new green bank boss in shift of funding priorities

The federal government green bank has dusted off an old mandate, but has not ruled…

16 October 2026

Anti-renewables groups still spending big on Meta – and met with near silence by green energy industry

Fossil fuel interests spent $1.2 million on Meta ads in the last three months, a…

16 October 2026

Australia can still become a giga-scale solar manufacturer, says Arena, as it flags new local PV maker

Australian Renewable Energy Agency says the country can still become a major solar PV manufacturer,…

16 October 2026