The latest renewable energy news includes announcements on Rondo Energy, Rio Tinto, Genesis Energy, Uriel Renovables, and others.
Rondo Energy and Rio Tinto Advance 360 MWh Industrial Heat Battery Project in Australia
US thermal storage developer Rondo Energy and mining company Rio Tinto have started front-end engineering and design for a 360 MWh industrial heat battery at the Yarwun alumina refinery in Queensland. Announced October 21, the project has secured an initial A$3.6 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Further support includes up to A$38 million for deployment and A$33.3 million in conditional contingency funding. The proposed system will provide 30 MW of thermal discharge capacity and 78 MW of electrical charging capacity. Rondo’s technology stores electricity as high-temperature heat in refractory bricks, allowing industrial facilities to replace fossil-fuel-based process heat with renewable electricity.
Genesis Energy Opens NZ$130 Million, 100 MW/200 MWh Battery at Huntly Power Station
New Zealand electricity company Genesis Energy has officially opened its first grid-scale battery storage facility at Huntly Power Station. The 100 MW/200 MWh installation was inaugurated on October 15 and reported internationally on October 21. The project cost approximately NZ$130 million, more than NZ$5 million below budget. French manufacturer Saft supplied 70 battery units, installed by Northpower. The system connects directly to the national grid through Transpower’s Huntly substation and can supply electricity equivalent to consumption by approximately 60,000 households for two hours. Genesis has approved a second 100 MW/200 MWh battery at Huntly, with construction expected to begin before the end of 2026 and operation targeted for 2028.
Uriel Renovables Completes $20 Million Battery Storage Projects in Massachusetts
Spanish renewable-energy developer Uriel Renovables has completed construction of two battery storage facilities in Massachusetts, United States, with combined capacity of 10 MW/40 MWh. Announced October 21, the projects represent approximately $20 million in investment. Developed through US subsidiary Uriel Renewables in partnership with Silo Energy, the installations are located in Framingham and Chicopee. Each facility provides 5 MW of discharge capacity and 20 MWh of electricity storage, equivalent to four hours at rated output. The projects mark Uriel’s first completed battery storage developments in the United States. The company intends to use the installations to support electricity grid flexibility and participate in available energy storage and electricity market programmes.
