RWE to build 8 hour battery storage system at Balranald solar farm
Australia's first eight-hour lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Balranald, New South Wales will store and supply renewable energy to the NSW grid.
RWE, a major global player in renewable energy, has announced its decision to construct Australia's first eight-hour battery storage system near Balranald, New South Wales. This lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts (MW) and 400 megawatt hours (MWh), is the sole project to succeed in New South Wales’ inaugural Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreements tender process.
The BESS will be located adjacent to RWE’s existing 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm, which ranks among Australia’s largest. The battery system will store surplus renewable energy and distribute it to the NSW grid during peak demand periods. Tesla has been selected as the BESS supplier, while Beon Energy Solutions will handle the civil, structural, electrical, and control works necessary to connect the system to the existing 33kV substation. Construction is set to begin in the latter half of this year, with the project expected to be operational by late 2025.
"RWE’s investment decision and signing of supplier contracts for the Limondale BESS project is an exciting step forward in our commitment to the Australian renewables sector and support of New South Wales’ renewable energy ambitions." Katja Wünschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia said today.
Globally, RWE is a leading force in the energy transition, with over 700 MW of battery storage systems currently in operation and 1.2 GW of projects under construction. Wünschel pointed to RWE's expertise in developing, building and operating battery storage systems in Europe and the US, as a portend of the contribution RWE can make to Australia's renewable energy goals.
RWE has been active in Australia since 2013, focusing on developing wind, solar, and battery storage projects. The Limondale Solar Farm, which began commercial operation in 2021, has an installed capacity of 249 MWac and supplies enough electricity to power approximately 105,000 homes annually. RWE aims to develop up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects in Australia by 2030.
