Renewable energy developer ACEnergy has seen its 250MW Joel Joel battery energy storage system (BESS) in Victoria, Australia, granted its 5.3.4A notification.
The Joel Joel BESS is being developed around 23km east of Stawell in Victoria’s Wimmera region, famed for being home to the Grampians National Park. Last year, the project was selected as one of the first BESS to be fast-tracked through Victoria’s new Development Facilitation Program.
ACEnergy said the BESS will provide essential grid services, such as frequency regulation and peak load management, to ensure a stable electricity supply to the state. This will be done via the inclusion of grid-forming inverters.
It is worth noting that the BESS’s size has changed from the initial 350MW/700MWh to 250MW/1,000MWh.
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ACEnergy’s head of grid, Joel Prata, said receiving the 5.3.4A notification is a key milestone for connecting the project to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
“The Joel Joel BESS project is an exciting project that supports the government’s target of transitioning to 95% renewable energy by 2035. Working with all key stakeholders, especially with the local community, is critical to the project’s success,” Prata added.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) provided the notification, which grants the developer Generator Performance Standard (GPS) approval.
Tom Best, the COO of Eku Energy, a company that develops, owns, and operates BESS, recently told ESN Premium that the procedure for developers in Australia to connect to the transmission grid and tap into the NEM Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) and energy trading markets is extremely stringent.
Indeed, despite receiving the 5.3.4A notification, ACEnergy must ensure that any alterations made during the construction phase, such as modifications in plant design or cabling setups that might impact its electrical characteristics, are updated through a procedure known as R1.
While a project can be awarded a GPS, the R1 process demonstrates that it meets or surpasses its performance standards as required by AEMO and the network service providers. If these standards are not met, the GPS can be retracted.
ACEnergy becomes the latest BESS developer to receive its 5.3.4A notification following a flurry in May 2025. Elements Green received notification for a 1.3GWh solar-plus-storage site in Queensland, while Elgin Energy received one for a 150MW solar-plus-storage site in Victoria.
