RWE has decided to build Australia’s first eight-hour battery near Balranald, in New South Wales (NSW). Financial details were not disclosed.
RWE’s eight-hour lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was the only successful project in New South Wales’ first Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreements tender process, and was awarded a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement.
The Limondale BESS has a planned capacity of 50+ megawatts (MW) and 400+ megawatt hours (MWh). The project will be located next to RWE’s 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm. The BESS will connect to existing grid infrastructure.
RWE has selected Tesla as the BESS supplier, and Beon Energy Solutions as the delivery partner for the Balance of Plant, which includes the civil, structural, electrical and control works required to connect the Megapack to the existing 33kV substation. RWE will start construction in the second half of this year, with commissioning planned for late 2025.
Katja Wunschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said: “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 goals.”
RWE in Australia
In 2018, RWE began construction of the Limondale solar farm in Balranald, New South Wales. With an installed capacity of 249 MWac the large-scale solar farm is made up of 872,000 panels and generates enough electricity to power about 105,000 homes per year.
RWE’s Australian team of more than 70 is developing a portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage projects across the country. RWE intends to develop up to 3 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in Australia by 2030.
RWE operates battery storage systems with an overall capacity of more than 700 MW and 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage projects under construction worldwide. The company commissioned three U.S. battery storage projects totalling 190 MW. As an integral part of its Growing Green strategy, RWE plans to expand its battery storage capacity to 6 GW worldwide by 2030.