Today’s renewable energy news includes announcements from Battery energy storage projects in Australia, Synergy, Hydro One, and others.
Victoria Fast-Tracks Approvals for 700 MW of New Battery Energy Storage
The state of Victoria, Australia, has fast-tracked planning approvals for around 700 MW of new battery energy storage projects, accelerating deployment of critical grid-scale flexibility infrastructure. The move is designed to support the rapid expansion of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, while strengthening grid reliability as coal-fired power plants retire. By streamlining approvals, Victoria aims to reduce project timelines, unlock private investment, and improve system resilience during peak demand and extreme weather events. For consumers, additional battery storage will help deliver more stable electricity supply, lower price volatility, and improved energy security. The initiative reinforces Victoria’s position as a leader in energy storage deployment and supports Australia’s broader decarbonisation and clean energy transition objectives through faster integration of large-scale renewables.
Synergy Commissions 500-MW Collie Battery in Western Australia
Synergy has brought online the 500-MW Collie battery energy storage system in Western Australia, marking one of the country’s largest grid-scale batteries. The project is a cornerstone of Western Australia’s plan to replace retiring coal capacity and support a power system increasingly powered by renewable energy. The Collie battery will provide fast-response grid services, including frequency control, reserve capacity, and peak demand support, improving system reliability and resilience. For consumers, the project supports energy security, reduced outage risk, and smoother integration of wind and solar power. The commissioning highlights strong public investment in large-scale energy storage and reinforces the critical role of utility-scale batteries in Australia’s clean energy transition and long-term decarbonisation strategy.
Ontario Selects Hydro One to Build Priority Transmission Line Between Sudbury and Barrie
The Government of Ontario has selected Hydro One to develop a new priority electricity transmission line between Sudbury and Barrie, strengthening grid capacity across northern and central Ontario. The project is designed to support rising power demand, enable greater integration of renewable energy, and improve system reliability as electrification accelerates. The new transmission line represents a major infrastructure investment, enhancing the ability to move clean electricity to population and industrial centres. For customers, the project will deliver improved grid resilience, long-term reliability, and energy security, while helping manage future load growth. The selection reinforces Hydro One’s role as a key grid infrastructure developer and underlines the importance of transmission expansion in supporting Canada’s clean energy transition and economic growth.
Hithium Completes World’s First Open-Door Fire Test of 6.25-MWh BESS
Hithium has completed the world’s first open-door, large-scale fire test of a 6.25-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) using its KAH battery cells, setting a new benchmark for energy storage safety validation. The test simulated extreme thermal runaway conditions to evaluate fire propagation, heat release, and system integrity under real-world scenarios. The successful trial demonstrates Hithium’s focus on advanced safety engineering, risk mitigation, and compliance with evolving global standards as utility-scale storage deployments accelerate. For developers, utilities, and insurers, the results provide greater confidence in large-capacity BESS performance and bankability. The milestone supports wider adoption of grid-scale batteries, enhancing grid resilience, renewable integration, and energy security, while reinforcing Hithium’s position as a leader in safe, high-capacity energy storage technology.
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