ACEnergy gets 5.3.4A notification for 250MW grid-forming BESS in Victoria, Australia

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

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.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

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.

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.

11 November 2025
San Diego, USA
The 2024 Summit included innovative new features including a ‘Crash Course in Battery Asset Management’, Ask-Me-Anything formats and debate-style sessions. You can expect to meet and network with all the key industry players again in 2025 from major US asset owners, operators, RTOs and ISOs, optimizers, software and analytics providers, technical consultancies, O&M technology providers and more.

Read Next

July 3, 2025
OptiGrid has partnered with Hepburn Energy to optimise a BESS at the 4.1MW Hepburn Wind Project in Victoria, Australia, using AI.
July 2, 2025
Utility company Ameren Missouri has filed an application with the Missouri public service commission (PSC) to construct a natural gas and battery storage facility in the state.
July 2, 2025
The Energy Security Corporation has officially launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion.
July 2, 2025
Developer Atmos Renewables has successfully achieved financial close on its 400MWh Merredin battery energy storage system (BESS) in Western Australia.
Premium
July 1, 2025
As US Senators vote on the tax reconciliation bill, experts Jessica Dunn of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Tonja L. Wicks of esVolta discuss its potential impact.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter