Solar and Battery Projects Surge as Wind Plans Accumulate
In the past fortnight, a noticeable increase in solar and battery initiatives has been recorded within the energy market operator’s grid management system, underscoring the growing attractiveness of these technologies to investors, particularly in the form of solar-battery hybrids.
The latest addition was Acen Australia’s 200 megawatt (MW), 400 megawatt-hour New England battery energy storage system (BESS), unveiled last week beside the impressive 720MW New England solar farm, which remains one of the largest photovoltaic (PV) projects in Australia.
Government Support for Renewable Initiatives
As previously reported by Renew Economy, the New England BESS received backing from the New South Wales (NSW) government’s Emerging Energy Program, a $75 million scheme aimed at accelerating the development of firmed renewable energy sources as the state edges towards a coal-free grid.
The solar aspect, which saw the completion of the first 400 MW phase at the start of last year, is also supported by a 20-year underwriting agreement with the NSW state government.
Details on the New England BESS
According to Geoff Eldridge from Global Power Energy, the New England BESS is listed on the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Market Management System (MMS) as comprising two bidirectional battery units, each identified by separate Dispatchable Unit Identifiers (DUIDs).
Eldridge notes, “The New England BESS split across two DUIDs is … a useful reminder that larger BESS projects can appear in MMS as multiple unit groupings rather than a single line item.”
New Solar Farms Entering the Market
Towards the end of last week, two new solar farms also made their debut on the AEMO dashboard: the 100 MW Bundaberg Solar Farm in Queensland, developed by Global Power Generation, and the 80 MW Lancaster Solar Farm in Victoria, created by European Energy.
Notably, both projects benefit from power purchase agreements with high-profile corporate clients, namely Telstra for Bundaberg and Apple for Lancaster. As a result, both are classified by AEMO as semi-scheduled generating units.
A Renewed Focus on Wind Power
While the current focus is on solar and battery projects entering the grid management system, there has been a recent surge in new wind developments joining the federal EPBC queue, suggesting a potential revival for wind energy in 2026.
Among the fresh proposals for consideration by the federal environmental assessment is the Twin Hills wind farm, featuring up to 110 turbines along with a battery system, which Wind Prospect is proposing 30 km north-east of Eneabba and 260 km north of Perth in Western Australia.
Additionally, Equis Wind Australia has put forth plans for a 600 MW wind farm and associated ancillary infrastructure in Jackson North, roughly 35 km south-west of Wandoan in Queensland.
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