Victoria, Australia, has seen just under 5GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) granted approval for development by the state and federal governments.
Pacific Green has secured planning approval for a 1GW/2.5GWh BESS in Portland, whilst Edify Energy has received federal approval for a 300MW/2.4GWh solar-plus-storage facility in northwest Victoria.
It comes as global investment group La Caisse has announced that it will acquire Edify Energy in a deal worth AU$1.1 billion (US$730 million).
Pacific Green’s 2.5GWh Portland Energy Park secures fast-track approval
The Victorian Government has approved Pacific Green’s AU$1.3 billion Portland Energy Park through its Development Facilitation Program, expediting what will become Victoria’s largest battery storage project.
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The approval process, which typically takes 12-18 months, was completed in six months under the state’s streamlined regulatory framework for critical energy infrastructure.
The facility will consist of four 250MW BESS “parks” with a combined capacity of 1GW/2.5GWh. The project includes an on-site terminal station to connect the facility to the grid and the National Electricity Market (NEM), which spans Australia’s eastern and southern states, via existing transmission infrastructure.
Pacific Green chairman Scott Poulter noted that the company will develop the Portland project using its global presence, which spans the UK, Europe and Australia.
“We are pleased that our second Australian asset has secured the support needed to move forward. Drawing on our global expertise in developing energy parks across the UK, Europe and Australia, the Portland project will play a major role in decarbonising Australia’s energy system,” Poulter said.
The project site spans approximately 40 hectares of industrial-zoned land adjacent to the Portland Aluminium Smelter. It is positioned to provide grid stabilisation services in areas with significant industrial load requirements.
According to planning documents, the facility will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology housed in approximately 200 containerised units. It will also have advanced fire suppression systems and thermal management controls.
The Portland facility will be developed in phases over the next 36 months, with the first 250MW expected online by Q3 2026 and subsequent 250MW increments at six-month intervals.
The Portland Energy Park represents Pacific Green’s second Australian grid-scale battery storage project, following its Limestone Coast BESS in South Australia, where the company is currently constructing the first 250MW/1,000MWh phase.
Pacific Green confirmed that the project is expected to create approximately 400 jobs during construction and 30 permanent positions once operational, providing economic stimulus to Victoria’s southwest region.
Pacific Green has committed to sourcing at least 60% of components and labour from local suppliers where technically feasible.
Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program
The Portland Energy Park is the latest energy storage project to be fast-tracked through the Victoria government’s Development Facilitation program.
The Victoria government’s DFP initiative, which was expanded last year to include renewable energy projects, aims to speed up the development of critical infrastructure projects in Victoria.
Before its inclusion, projects had to pass through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which saw around 20% of these projects delayed by around two years.
Other notable BESS projects to have advanced through the initiative in recent months include Chinese PV module manufacturer Trina Solar’s 500MW/1,000MWh Kiewa Valley BESS, which is being developed in the Murray-Darling basin, to the east of Melbourne, the state capital.
Developer ACEnergy also saw its 350MW/770MWh Little River BESS included within the scheme earlier this year.
Victoria’s minister for planning, Sonya Kilkenny, highlighted that the state’s expedited approval process has facilitated over AU$6 billion in renewable energy investment, delivering “more affordable and environmentally friendly power to hundreds of thousands of Victorian homes”.
Edify Energy receives federal approval for 2,400MWh solar-plus-storage project
Alongside the advancement of Pacific Green’s Portland Energy Park, Australian renewables developer Edify Energy has secured federal government approval for its Nowingi Solar Power Station in northwest Victoria.
The hybrid project will combine a 300MW solar PV power plant with an integrated 300MW/2,400MWh BESS. The Nowingi project’s 2.4GWh BESS component will be 8-hours in duration.
Federal approval, granted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, follows environmental impact assessments that included detailed studies of the project’s potential effects on local flora and fauna.
Edify plans to commence construction in 2026. This phase is expected to take approximately 18 months and create around 250 jobs. The project will connect to the existing 220kV transmission line and the NEM that runs through the site.
La Caisse acquires Edify Energy in AU$1.1 billion deal
The federal approval for Edify’s Nowingi project coincides with a major corporate development for the company.
Yesterday (22 September), global investment group La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) announced it has entered into binding agreements to acquire Edify Energy in a transaction valued at approximately AU$1.1 billion.
The investment will fund Edify’s acquisition and provide substantial equity capital to finance two ready-to-build integrated solar-plus-storage projects totalling 900MW/3,600MWh. These projects have already secured offtake agreements with major partners, including mining giant Rio Tinto and the Commonwealth of Australia.
The investment will also support Edify’s extensive development pipeline, which includes more than 11GW of hybrid and battery storage projects across Australia.
John Cole, founder and executive chairman of Edify, believes the company has found the “perfect owner” to take Edify’s business and market position to the next level
“The agreement with La Caisse is a pivotal moment for Edify, providing balance sheet strength to seriously ramp up Edify’s speed of execution of firm dispatchable green generators,” Cole said.
The transaction is subject to customary change-of-control and regulatory approvals. ICA Partners and Clifford Chance advised La Caisse, while Lazard Australia and Herbert-Smith Freehills Kramer advised Edify.
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