A 1,800MWh wind-plus-storage project being pursued by developer Squadron Energy in New South Wales, Australia, has been recommended for approval by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPCN).
The site aims to couple a 700MW wind farm with a co-located 400MW/1,800MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). It is located west of Gulgong and northeast of Wellington in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which recently became the first to transition into the delivery phase.
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A decision paper released by the IPCN confirmed that AU$2 billion (US$1.32 billion) will be invested in delivering the large-scale renewable energy project. It will cover an area of 17,645 hectares.
The project’s operational lifespan is around 30 years. However, the development includes infrastructure that could extend its operation.
It is worth noting that the project was given the green light despite 50 public objections and the local Warrumbungle Shire Council.
However, the Commission found that the proposed site is suitable for the wind-plus-storage development given its location close to a proposed Central-West Orana REZ transmission line, topography, wind resources, avoidance of major environmental constraints and access to the regional road network.
As such, the IPCN has determined that development consent should be granted for the large-scale renewable energy generation project.
OX2 secures 1GW wind-plus-storage project in Western Australia
In the Australian market, Swedish developer OX2 recently acquired a proposed 1GW onshore wind farm in Western Australia, including plans for a 100MW co-located BESS.
The onshore wind farm, situated north of the state capital, Perth, is still in the early stages of its development cycle. OX2 will continue to manage the approval processes.
The size of the BESS is not set in stone and could be increased or decreased throughout the development process. The developer said that the BESS will be developed before the wind farm.
In 2023, OX2 made its debut in the Australian market by acquiring solar PV developer ESCO Pacific. The company recently started selling some of its solar PV assets, with PV Tech previously reporting that an undisclosed buyer had purchased the 119MW Horsham Solar Farm in Victoria, as well as two projects totalling 137MW, which were acquired by renewable energy developer European Energy.
The Horsham project is anticipated to feature a 50MW/100MWh BESS on-site, and the annual production from the site is estimated to be 242GWh.
