Energy generator and retailer Alinta Energy has commenced main construction works on its 1,000MWh Stage 1 of its Reeves Plains battery energy storage system (BESS) project in South Australia.
The 250MW/1,000MWh battery storage project, located approximately 60km north of Adelaide, is the organisation’s third BESS project and is set to become one of the largest energy storage facilities in South Australia when operational in 2028.
Construction commences following Alinta’s final investment decision in July 2025, when the company green-lit the first stage of what will ultimately become a 500MW/2,000MWh energy hub. Stage 1 is designed with a 20-year operational lifespan.
Construction company GenusPlus Group has been appointed as the Principal Contractor for the project, with early works commencing in late 2025 and main construction activities now underway.
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The company has advanced procurement activities and prepared the site for construction while engaging local communities on the construction-phase impacts.
The battery system will feature 194 battery units supplied by the Chinese manufacturer CATL, alongside 89 inverters from Power Electronics, with supporting infrastructure and vegetation screening.
The selection of CATL as the battery supplier aligns with the world’s biggest lithium battery manufacturer’s growing presence in the Australian energy storage market, having previously supplied numerous projects, including the 2,000MWh Collie BESS in Western Australia for Neoen.
Meanwhile, Power Electronics’ inverter technology will manage the conversion between DC battery storage and AC grid connection, with the 89-unit configuration designed to optimise performance.
Alinta’s Reeves Plains BESS sits adjacent to a proposed 300MW gas-fired power station, forming part of an integrated energy hub designed to provide backup capacity as coal-fired generation retires across South Australia.
Stage 2 of the Reeves Plains Energy Hub remains in feasibility assessment, with plans for an additional 250MW/1,000MWh battery, bringing total capacity to 500MW/2,000MWh.
If approved and constructed, the combined facility would rank among Australia’s largest battery energy storage systems, providing substantial firming capacity for South Australia’s increasingly renewable-dominated grid.
South Australia has emerged as one of the most progressive regions globally in the renewable energy transition. Back in 2024, renewables supplied 100% of the state’s electricity demand for a third of the entire year.
However, this renewable energy prowess has created corresponding needs for firming capacity and grid stability services that large-scale battery storage is uniquely positioned to address.
Indeed, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) predicts that South Australia will begin experiencing reliability gaps from 2026-27.
Envision Energy’s global technical lead, Behzad Naderi, highlighted the strength of South Australia’s renewable energy and storage market in a recent interview with ESN Premium, whilst also emphasising the potential of hybrid solar-plus-storage projects in Australia.
Interested in Australia? Read Energy-Storage.news’ Energy Storage Summit Australia coverage and related content.
