Renewable energy developer Ampyr Australia has reached financial close on its 300MW/600MWh Wellington battery energy storage system (BESS) Stage 1 in New South Wales.
The organisation confirmed it has relied on its backer, Singapore-based investor AGP Sustainable Real Assets, and AU$340 million (US$221 million) in debt financing for the Wellington BESS.
Several banks, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of China, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Rabobank, Societe Generale, and United Overseas Bank, provided debt financing.
Ampyr Australia purchased the remaining 50% in the Wellington BESS site from Shell Energy Australia in early February. This was for the project’s first stage, comprising 300MW/600MWh BESS, whilst the second stage, already owned by Ampyr, will increase this by 100MW/400MWh.
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Future expansion and connection to the NEM
Energy-Storage.news reported earlier this year that the developer sought an investor to build both stages of the BESS, which would amount to 400MW/1,000MWh.
The BESS will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via an existing substation of the high-voltage transmission system operator and manager, Transgrid, at Wellington and be adjacent to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The Australian Financial Review (AFR) has reported that Ampyr Australia will continue to “test the equity market for funding, seeking to raise additional funds for stage two” of the Wellington BESS site.
Ampyr Australia’s vision for grid-scale battery storage
Alex Wonhas, CEO of Ampyr Australia, praised the company for reaching financial close on its first grid-scale BESS, noting that it will help lower energy costs for economically critical yet energy-intensive industries, such as data centres.
“This project is a crucial first step in our commitment to delivering 6,000 MWh of operational BESS by 2030, directly addressing the growing need for grid-scale batteries and accelerating Australia’s transition to a reliable, affordable, and renewable energy future,” Wonhas added.
The BESS could also provide a buffer to ensure system security in the event of power surges or other disruptions, much like the Waratah Super Battery, also in New South Wales, which was called upon in November 2024 to prevent widespread blackouts in the state.
Stage 1 of the Wellington BESS is scheduled to be energised in 2026.
Fluence to provide BESS and Mosaic for Wellington BESS Stage 1
Ampyr Australia has contracted Fluence, a battery storage system integrator and clean energy software and services company, to deliver the 600MWh Wellington BESS.
Fluence will provide its full suite of energy storage products, including its Gridstack system, a 20-year service contract, AI-powered bidding optimisation software Mosaic, and the Nispera asset performance management (APM) platform.
Mosaic, which has been utilised in other Australian BESS projects, such as a 100MW/200MWh Tilt Renewables BESS in Victoria, is regarded as the “most widely adopted bidding optimisation software on the NEM.”
It harnesses AI to enable clean energy asset owners to increase revenue, minimise cost, and manage risk while maintaining compliance with wholesale electricity market rules.
Perhaps the most significant Australian BESS to use Mosaic technology is the aforementioned Waratah Super Battery system, which will enhance reliability and resiliency across the NEM.
Ampyr has signed a 10-year virtual offtake agreement with Australian renewable energy developer Zen Energy for 150MW of the Wellington Stage 1 BESS capacity. The offtake agreement will provide flexibility in capacity contracting for Ampyr while enabling ZEN to firm its portfolio of sustainability-driven customers.
Mosaic will manage Ampyr’s virtual tolling contract with Zen Energy. This will allow Ampyr to nominate when the BESS should charge or discharge to maximise performance.
Jan Teichmann, senior vice president and president of APAC at Fluence, believes the company’s suite of products will help Ampyr Australia “extract the most value out of the Wellington BESS once operational.”
Marie Cullen, head of procurement at Fluence Australia, recently explained why responsible sourcing is important to the energy transition and energy storage developments in a contributed article exclusive to Energy-Storage.news.
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