Energy generator and retailer Alinta Energy has approved the development of the first stage of its Reeves Plains Energy Hub battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Australia.
The first stage of the project will see a 250MW/1,000MWh 4-hour duration BESS installed in South Australia. A second stage will increase this to 500MW/2,000MWh in the future, making it the largest BESS in South Australia and one of the largest in Australia.
Currently, the largest BESS in South Australia is French independent power producer (IPP) Neoen Australia’s 238.5MW/477MWh Blyth BESS, which entered commissioning last month, highlighting the rapid growth of battery storage in the region.
Strategic location and purpose in South Australia’s grid
Alinta’s Reeves Plains Energy Hub, located 60km north of the South Australian capital Adelaide, will sit adjacent to a proposed 300MW gas-fired power station, which forms part of the hub.
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Alinta said the BESS will “provide a backup for renewables as coal-fired generation retires” in South Australia.
South Australia’s energy storage sector is ramping up owing to its renewable energy prowess, with the state having run on over 100% renewable energy from 26 August to 1 September 2024, as the country transitioned from winter to spring.
Construction timeline and implementation
Construction company GenusPlus Group, which was recently contracted to build the 400MWh Merredin BESS in Western Australia, has been announced as the Principal Contractor for the Reeves Plains BESS in South Australia.
Andres Maasing, Alinta Energy’s chief development officer, said this appointment means that Alinta is no longer just planning energy storage but building it.
“Early works are underway, procurement is well advanced, and the site is being prepared for the build. We’re also talking to neighbours and the community about what construction will mean for them,” Maasing added.
Construction of the South Australian BESS is set to begin in early 2026 and stage one is expected to be operational by 2028.
Technical specifications of the Reeves Plains BESS
The Reeves Plains BESS will include 194 battery units supplied by CATL, a China-headquartered battery manufacturer. CATL has supplied several BESS assets in Australia, including the 2,000MWh Collie BESS in Western Australia.
CATL also recently joined Sungrow and Tesla as AAA-rated energy storage suppliers in PV Tech Research’s latest Battery StorageTech Bankability Ratings report.
Alinta’s BESS will feature 89 inverters provided by Power Electronics, along with supporting infrastructure and vegetation screening.
South Australia’s growing energy storage needs
The South Australian government is preparing to launch a new long-duration energy storage (LDES) tender seeking projects with a minimum of 30MW output and at least 8-hour storage duration, further emphasising the importance of BESS technology in the state’s energy future.
This comes as the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) predicts South Australia to begin to experience reliability gaps from 2026-27, highlighting the need for further energy storage investment in the state, with BESS projects like Alinta’s playing a crucial role in addressing these challenges.
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