X-Elio’s 300 MW Battery Project Joins Federal Green Queue

X-Elio Proposes 300 MW Battery Storage Project in NSW

Spanish renewable energy company X-Elio is moving forward with plans to establish a 300 megawatt battery storage facility along the Hume Highway in south-eastern New South Wales, now awaiting federal approval.

The proposed Willavale Park battery energy storage system (BESS) aims to deliver a capacity of 300 MW and 1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) and will be located approximately 22 km southwest of Goulburn, in Wollogorang.

Community Engagement and Project Development

X-Elio, which is backed by global investment firm Brookfield, has indicated in its referral documents that it began engaging with the community and stakeholders regarding the battery project in June of the previous year. This outreach included discussions with local government officials, landowners, neighbouring residents, and the wider community.

Initially, the company had plans to develop a solar farm of around 50 MW alongside the Willavale BESS. However, the referral documents reveal that “initial biodiversity surveys … resulted in solar becoming non-viable, and as such the Project design was amended to be a standalone BESS development.”

Previous Solar Farm Proposals

According to Renew Map, a prior proposal for a 600 MW solar farm at the same site, known as the CWP Renewables/Squadron Energy Parkesbourne solar farm, has also been scrapped by its developers.

The area designated for the battery project spans approximately 189.87 hectares, currently utilised for agricultural grazing and cropping. The documents indicate that around 1.12 hectares will be impacted by necessary road upgrades to facilitate the construction of the BESS.

Future Projects in the Pipeline

X-Elio has several large battery projects in development for New South Wales, including a nearby 300 MW, 1,200 MWh Canyonleigh BESS, which was referred to the EPBC in July. Additionally, another project linked to the Puggoon Solar Farm and BESS (264 MW and 110 MW / 440 MWh) is anticipated to be submitted for EPBC referral later this year. Puggoon is situated in central-eastern NSW, east of Dubbo.