Renewables developer Neoen has announced the start of construction for two new big batteries: the 200MW/400 MWh Blyth Battery in South Australia and the 200MW/400MWh Western Downs Battery in Queensland.
The Blyth Battery battery will be located next to the Blyth West substation and will be connected to ElectraNet’s transmission network. In line with its develop-to-own business model, Neoen will be the long-term owner and operator of the asset.
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Blyth Battery will mainly be deployed in combination with Neoen’s Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm to deliver 70MW of renewable baseload energy to BHP. The energy will power BHP’s Olympic Dam operations in South Australia, one of the world’s most significant deposits of copper, gold and uranium.
Neoen has also begun construction for its 200MW/400MWh Western Downs Battery in Queensland. The battery, consisting of Tesla Megapack systems, will leverage the existing infrastructure of Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub which includes a 460MWp solar farm, currently nearing completion.
It 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. Early construction works are underway, with the asset expected to start operating in the Australian summer of 2024/25.
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.
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As a result of support from ARENA’s recently announced Large Scale Battery Storage Funding Round, both batteries will ultimately 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.
This brings Neoen’s total Australian assets close to 3GW in operation or under construction with its storage portfolio approaching 1GW. Neoen is the country’s leading owner of big batteries, with its portfolio including the 300MW/450MWh Victorian Big Battery and the 150MW/193.5MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve.
