The 200MW/400MWh New England battery energy storage system (BESS) in New South Wales has registered with the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Market Management System (MMS).
AEMO’s registration list shows the New England BESS appearing as two separate dispatch unit identifiers (DUIDs) on 18 February 2026. Separated into two units, NESBESS1 and NESBESS2, as they are labelled, each has a registered 126MW for both generation and consumption, with a maximum power output of 100MW.
The system comprises 112 units, with NESBESS1 covering units 1-56 and NESBESS2 covering units 57-112. The update was highlighted by Geoff Eldridge of consultancy Global Power Energy on LinkedIn.
According to Eldridge, the dual-DUID structure aligns with industry practice for larger battery projects, where systems exceed single-registration thresholds and require multiple market identifiers.
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AEMO initially listed storage capacity as 0MWh, though this is likely to be a data entry issue given the project’s confirmed 400MWh capacity across two-hour-duration systems.
Renewable energy developer Acen Australia commenced construction on the battery system almost a year ago to the day (24 February 2025), which is co-located with the 720MW New England solar facility. The 400MW first stage of the solar PV power plant started operations in March 2023.
A second 320MW stage is set to be completed later this year, supported by power purchase agreements with Asahi Beverages and BaptistCare signed in July 2024.
Energy storage technology provider Energy Vault supplied the BESS technology, which incorporates advanced grid-forming inverters designed to provide system strength, stability, and network security services to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Grid-forming inverters have previously been identified as a key trend in Australia and are an area of the energy storage industry where the country is currently leading.
Indeed, previous coverage by Energy-Storage.news found that 10 grid-forming BESS sites are currently in operation in the NEM with a combined output of 1,070MW, while the development pipeline includes 94 projects comprising 78 standalone battery systems and 16 hybrid installations.
The project represents the first large-scale battery development supported by the New South Wales government’s Emerging Energy Program, which provides grant funding for dispatchable electricity projects.
The programme operates two funding streams: Capital Projects for construction assistance and Pre-Investment Studies for development activities.
Lumea, the commercial division of transmission system operator Transgrid, manages the BESS connection through an expanded switching yard that will accommodate both the battery system and the solar project’s second stage.
Acen holds approval for a total 1,400MW/2,800MWh of battery storage at the New England location, indicating potential for expansion beyond the current 400MWh system.
AEMO’s recent registration activity extends beyond battery storage to include new solar developments across Queensland and Victoria. The Bundaberg Solar Farm in Queensland has also been registered in AEMO’s MMS with 101MW registered capacity and 78MW maximum output under the BUSF1 identifier.
Victoria’s Lancaster Solar Farm has also achieved simultaneous registration, with a registered capacity of 94MW and a maximum generation capability of 80MW under the LANCSF1 designation. Both projects register as semi-scheduled generating units.
The Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 will be returning to Sydney on 18-19 March. It features keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics such as the Capacity Investment Scheme, long-duration energy storage, and BESS revenue streams. ESN Premium subscribers receive an exclusive discount on ticket prices.
To secure your tickets and learn more about the event, please visit the official website.
