Solar and Battery Projects Surge, Wind Plans on the Rise
In the past two weeks, there’s been a significant uptick in new solar and battery initiatives making their way into the grid management system of the energy market operator. This trend highlights the increasing appeal of these technologies among investors, both as standalone solutions and in hybrid forms that combine solar and battery systems.
The latest entrant to this space is Acen Australia’s impressive 200 megawatt (MW), 400 megawatt-hour New England battery energy storage system (BESS), which has been strategically installed adjacent to one of the nation’s largest photovoltaic (PV) projects—the 720MW New England solar farm.
Backed by Government Initiatives
As detailed by Renew Economy, the development of the New England BESS has received substantial support from the New South Wales (NSW) government through its Emerging Energy Program, a $75 million initiative aimed at accelerating the advent of firmed renewable energy sources as the state transitions away from coal dependency.
Complementing the battery system, the solar component—which encompasses the first 400 MW stage—was completed at the beginning of last year and enjoys a 20-year underwriting agreement from the NSW government.
Unique Market Listing Features
As per Geoff Eldridge from Global Power Energy, the New England BESS is recorded in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Market Management System (MMS) as two separate bidirectional battery units, each assigned different Dispatchable Unit Identifiers (DUIDs).
“The New England BESS divided across two DUIDs serves as a valuable reminder that larger battery energy storage projects can be represented in the MMS as multiple unit clusterings instead of a single entry,” Eldridge explained.
New Solar Farms Join the Grid
In addition to the battery project, two solar farms have recently been incorporated into the AEMO dashboard: Global Power Generation’s 100 MW Bundaberg Solar Farm in Queensland, and European Energy’s 80 MW Lancaster Solar Farm in Victoria.
Notably, both projects have secured power purchase agreements with prominent corporate clients, with Telstra backing the Bundaberg venture and Apple supporting the Lancaster farm. Consequently, as Eldridge points out, both projects are classified as semi-scheduled generating units within AEMO’s system.
Wind Projects Gaining Momentum
While solar and battery developments have taken centre stage this month, the focus on new wind projects has intensified with recent applications entering the federal EPBC queue. This shift could indicate a potential resurgence for wind power in 2026.
Among the new entries is the Twin Hills wind farm, which proposes up to 110 turbines and battery storage, initiated by Wind Prospect approximately 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 along with associated infrastructure in Jackson North, located around 35 km south-west of Wandoan in Queensland.
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