Neoen has started construction of its 200MW Western Downs Battery in Australia.
The developer has provided notices to proceed to battery storage experts Tesla and to balance of plant contractor UGL, signalling the start of works at the site south west Queensland.
Neoen will be the long-term owner and operator of the asset, which is its fourth big battery in Australia and is expected to start operating in the Australian summer of 2024/25.
The battery itself will consist of Tesla Megapack systems and will leverage the existing infrastructure of Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub which includes a 460MW solar farm currently nearing completion.
The project will be located next to the Western Downs substation, with Powerlink delivering the connection works, including a dedicated high-voltage line which will connect the battery to the transmission network.
The Western Downs Battery is designed to help modernise and stabilise the Queensland grid, with the battery, capable of performing a range of critical roles including firming renewables, providing frequency services and transmission network support, Neoen said.
It will also be equipped with grid-forming inverter technology allowing it to provide essential system stability services traditionally provided by synchronous generation such as coal and gas, it added.
Neoen Australia’s managing director Louis de Sambucy said: “We are thrilled to be pressing ‘go’ on the Western Downs Battery, building upon our Western Downs solar farm which is nearing completion.
“We would like to thank Tesla, UGL and Powerlink for their dedication and commitment, and ARENA for their trust and support.
“We are extremely proud to now have a big battery in four of the five states of the National Electricity Market.”
ARENA chief executive officer Darren Miller said: “Battery storage is an essential technology in the transition to renewable energy, allowing us to smooth out variable generation and store electricity for when it’s needed.
“Next generation grid scale batteries such as Western Downs Battery will underpin this transition, with inverter technology that can maintain grid stability without fossil fuels.”
Neoen chairman and chief executive officer Xavier Barbaro said: “We are proud of this new storage asset, which will be the most powerful battery in Queensland, a state where the pace of the energy transition is accelerating.
“Neoen now holds a global storage portfolio of 842MW / 1341MWh.
“It also takes our total capacity past 6GW in operation or under construction around the world, giving us confidence in our ability to reach 10GW by 2025.”
