RWE Renewables Australia has successfully registered Australia’s first 8-hour duration battery energy storage system (BESS) with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
The 50MW/400MWh Limondale BESS, located at the power generation firm’s existing 249MW Limondale solar PV power plant near Balranald in New South Wales, features 144 Tesla Megapacks. It was the first-ever energy storage project awarded a government contract through a competitive solicitation specifically seeking long-duration resources in Australia.
Tendered by AEMO Services on behalf of the NSW state government and awarded in 2023, RWE’s long-term energy storage agreement (LTESA) has a term of 14 years, as detailed in an article published on Energy-Storage.news Premium after the contract was awarded.
The competitive solicitation was designed to encourage the development of storage assets capable of providing extended discharge durations, complementing the growing penetration of variable renewable energy.
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Initially, the selection of the BESS, which utilises lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology, raised eyebrows due to its limitations at the time.
However, fast-forward to the present day, numerous LDES Li-ion battery storage projects are being developed and continue to capture the attention of international markets. This has been spurred by varying breakthroughs in the battery market, including falling system costs, higher power densities and modularity.
About a year after being awarded the LTESA, RWE announced it had made its final investment decision (FID) on the Limondale BESS. Commissioning had been anticipated for late 2025, meaning it has been delivered on schedule.
Australian renewable energy and infrastructure contractor Beon Energy Solutions provided balance of plant (BOP) equipment.
RWE Renewables Australia CEO Daniel Belton labelled the Limondale BESS registration a “landmark achievement for long-duration storage” in Australia. The company’s global expertise will be leveraged to advance New South Wales’ clean energy transition.
The project has officially entered AEMO’s Market Management System, the core IT system that manages the National Electricity Market (NEM) wholesale market. The registration marks the transition from construction into hold point testing, with full commissioning expected by the end of 2025.
Once operational, the system will store excess renewable energy generated during high solar and wind output periods and dispatch it during peak demand periods, enhancing grid stability and enabling greater integration of renewables into the energy mix.
The battery storage system connects to the existing 33kV transmission line that serves the adjacent Limondale solar PV power plant, which has been operational since 2021.
The 8-hour duration capability positions the Limondale BESS to address more extended periods of supply-demand imbalance compared to shorter-duration systems that typically focus on frequency control and peak shaving applications.
This extended duration enables the system to provide backup during low renewable energy generation or high demand periods, potentially reducing reliance on gas peaker plants.
Although RWE’s Limondale BESS is Australia’s first 8-hour duration BESS to officially register with AEMO, other long-duration energy storage (LDES) batteries are being pursued nationwide.
Yesterday, Energy-Storage.news reported that Australian developer Edify Energy, which has been acquired by global investment group La Caisse (formerly CDPQ), received federal approval for a 2,400MWh 8-hour duration BESS in Victoria.
The Nowingi hybrid project will combine a 300MW solar PV power plant with an integrated 300MW/2,400MWh BESS. Federal approval was granted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
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