AMPYR Australia, a utility-scale battery storage developer backed by AGP Sustainable Real Assets, has received a 5.3.4 letter from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) for the 270MW Northern Battery near Port Augusta in South Australia.
The letter confirms the project meets the technical performance standards required to connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
It marks one of the final regulatory hurdles before financial close and construction can begin. AMPYR is targeting both in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The project is being developed with Adelaide-based Green Gold Energy (GGE), with Sungrow and APD Global involved as project partners.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
The Northern Battery will be located on the site of the former Northern Power Station, a 560MW coal-fired facility decommissioned in 2016. The project will repurpose existing substation infrastructure at the Port Augusta site.
The Northern Battery will have a nameplate capacity of 270MW and total storage capacity of 1,080MWh, configured to operate as an 8-hour BESS when required, according to the AMPYR project page.
The 5.3.4 letter is one of the most demanding milestones in Australia’s grid connection process. Before AEMO issues the letter, developers must complete power system modelling, hundreds of simulations, network studies and collaborative workshops with the network service provider.
Any alterations made during construction that could affect the project’s electrical characteristics must subsequently be updated through a separate R1 process.
As previously reported by Energy-Storage.news, AMPYR acquired the Northern Battery in November 2025, purchasing it from Green Gold Energy under a deal that kept GGE involved as a joint development partner.
The project will incorporate grid-forming inverter technology, enabling the battery storage system to provide voltage and frequency control services independent of conventional generation sources.
For a broader explanation of how grid-forming inverter technology works, Energy-Storage.news has published a white paper in partnership with Kehua Digital Energy and TÜV Rheinland.
Grid-forming inverter technology and South Australia’s system strength needs
The Northern Battery’s grid-forming configuration aligns with a broader shift in how the NEM manages system strength as coal retires.
Analysis conducted by AEMO earlier this year revealed that grid-forming inverters now feature in 74% of Australia’s 33.2GW NEM battery storage pipeline. The proportion reflects both the commercial incentive of system strength service contracts and growing operational experience with the technology across the NEM.
AEMO’s 2026 General Power System Risk Review found that grid-forming BESS has demonstrated the ability to support voltage waveform stability but has not yet been confirmed to deliver protection-quality fault current at the standard required to meet minimum system strength levels. AEMO is running a fault current trial to resolve that question.
The Northern Battery will connect to ElectraNet’s transmission network via pre-existing substation infrastructure at Port Augusta. The site sits at the northern end of South Australia’s transmission backbone, giving the project reach across a large portion of the state’s grid.
AMPYR’s Q4 2026 construction start would place the Northern Battery among the first long-duration projects in South Australia to move into active construction following the state’s inaugural Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism (FERM) tender. That tender awarded 15-year capacity contracts to six projects in May 2026, with the Northern Battery amongst the awardees.
Never miss an Australian energy storage story. Sign up for our Australia newsletter and get the latest project announcements, policy updates and market analysis delivered directly to you.
Solar Media (part of Informa Group) will host the Battery Asset Management Summit Australia 2026 on 25-26 August at the Amora Hotel Jamison in Sydney, bringing together asset owners, operators, trading teams and optimisers to address revenue strategy, lifecycle management and operational performance across Australia’s fast-growing battery storage fleet.
Readers of Energy-Storage.news can get 20% off their tickets using the code ESN20 at checkout. Find out more about the Summit on the official website.
