Renewable energy developer ACE Power has seen a battery energy storage system (BESS) of up to 8,000MWh in New South Wales, Australia, cleared through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
According to an update on the EPBC Act website, a decision was made on 18 June, and the BESS project was granted the “not a controlled action” referral decision, which allows the project to proceed.
In doing so, the BESS development will not be subject to full assessment and approvals under the federal government’s Act.
Eastern Hub Firming BESS specifications and location
Named the Eastern Hub Firming Battery, this 1,000MW BESS with a 4-8 hour duration is being pursued in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales. The BESS facility will be situated near Salisbury Plains, approximately 11km southeast of Uralla and 465km north of Sydney.
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As the first stage of the broader Hillview Energy Hub development, the BESS represents a critical component of the renewable energy complex. The hub will eventually include a 250-300MW solar PV power plant and a 200-300MW wind development featuring 71 turbines, complementing the BESS installation.
Despite being part of this larger energy hub, the BESS is designed to function independently from the other components. The BESS development will be constructed on primarily cleared land currently used for livestock grazing and agricultural purposes.
BESS integration with the New England Renewable Energy Zone
The BESS project has been designated a State Significant Development and will be strategically positioned within the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). This enables the BESS to connect directly to the National Electricity Market via EnergyCo’s proposed East Hub substation, maximising its grid stabilisation potential.
The New England REZ is projected to deliver 8GW of additional network capacity to support renewable energy generation and BESS deployment. According to EnergyCo, the zone is expected to attract over AUS$24 billion (US$15.5 billion) in private investment by 2034, creating approximately 6,000 construction jobs and 2,000 ongoing operational positions, many related to BESS installation and maintenance.
ACE Power’s growing BESS portfolio across Australia
ACE Power has been expanding its development pipeline of BESS projects across Australia. Yesterday (26 June) Energy-Storage.news reported that the developer had received development approval for a 200MW/800MWh solar-plus-storage site in Western Australia located near the township of Narrogin in the Wheatbelt region of the state.
This came just after the developer saw its 3,600MWh Nebo BESS in Queensland waved through the EPBC Act and secured approval for its 500MW, 4-hour duration Raglan BESS in the Isaac region of Queensland, further solidifying ACE Power’s position as a leading BESS developer in the country.
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