Sunshine state’s biggest battery completed as a new four-hour battery seals connection deal

The biggest battery so far delivered in Queensland has reached full commissioning, with Neoen Australia announcing that the first stage of its Western Downs battery – sized at 270 MW and 540 MWh – is now in full operation.

It is the first big battery in Queensland for Neoen, which has already built the Hornsdale big battery (the first in Australia and the biggest in the world to that date), as well as the Blyth battery in South Australia.

It is also completing the second stage of the Collie battery in Western Australia, which at 560 MW and 2240 MWh will be the biggest in the country, and the 116.8 MW, 233.7 MWh Capital battery in the ACT.

Neoen also built the Victoria Big Battery and the Bulgana battery, both in Victoria, but these are now owned by HMC Capital following a forced sale by competition regulators after Neoen was bought by Brookfield in an $11 billion deal late last year.

The Western Downs battery will double in size to 540 MW and 1080 MWh when the second stage of the project – currently under construction – is complete. The battery is located right next to the existing 400 MW Western Downs solar farm, also owned by Neoen.

The first stage, which features grid forming inverters, will be delivering services to the likes of AGL, Engie and Shell under various “virtual battery” agreements.

“We are proud to see our first big battery in Queensland operating in and strengthening the National Electricity Market at a capacity of 270 MW / 540 MWh, with grid-forming capabilities,” Neoen said in a post on LinkedIn.

“Thanks to Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and our lenders including the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for trusting our end-to-end expertise in accelerating Australia’s energy transition.”

Meanwhile, ACEnergy says it has received a connection deal with the Australian Energy Market Operator for its Joel Joel battery in the north west of Victoria.

The 250 MW, 1000 MWh (four hour) battery project will be connected to the grid near Neoen’s Bulgana green energy hub, near the town of Stawell, and was the first project to be approved under the Victorian Government’s accelerated and streamlined renewable energy planning process.

ACEnergy says it is now working through procurement contracts and continuing community engagement in preparation for construction, which it hopes to commence in the first quarter of 2026.

The 5.3.4A notification from AEMO provides an agreement of performance standards for the connection of the project, which will use grid-forming inverters.

The Victoria-based ACEnergy says the Joel Joel battery will provide essential grid services such as frequency regulation and peak load management, and help boost the uptake of renewables in the region.

“Achievement of the 5.3.4A notification for Joel Joel BESS is a key milestone for the connection of the project to the National Electricity Market,” ACEnergy’s head of grid Joel Prata said in a statement.

“By employing grid-forming inverters, the project will contribute to grid stability and help alleviate System Strength constraints in Northwestern Victoria.

“The Joel Joel BESS project is an exciting project that supports the government’s target of transitioning to 95% renewable energy by 2035.

“We are working with nearby neighbours to collaboratively develop mitigation measures for construction activities and identify opportunities for benefit sharing.”

It says is also exploring opportunities to jointly developed Community Benefit Fund with the Northern Grampians Shire Council, which would be overseen by a local Community Reference Group and are exploring partnership opportunities with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to maximise First Nations benefits.

For more information, please go to Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia.

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