Fluence has delivered all battery enclosures for the Bulabul Battery storage project in New South Wales ahead of schedule, marking a construction milestone for the 300MW/600MWh facility, which is now transitioning from planning to active deployment.
The delivery represents a critical phase in the project’s development timeline, with equipment now on site, enabling the progression of construction activities for what will become one of Australia’s larger battery energy storage installations.
The Fluence Gridstack technology serves as the core storage platform for the project, incorporating lithium-ion battery modules, power conversion systems, thermal management and advanced control software within a modular architecture designed specifically for utility-scale grid applications.
Located approximately 2km northeast of Wellington within the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), the Bulabul project comprises two distinct development phases designed to optimise construction sequencing and operational deployment.
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The 200MW/200MWh Bulabul 1 phase commenced construction in August 2025 and is expected to achieve initial energisation in mid-2026, with full commercial operations scheduled to begin by 2027.
Meanwhile, the second 100MW/400MWh phase, Bulabul 2, is expected to begin construction in the second quarter of 2026, with operations also scheduled for 2027.
Fluence’s involvement in the project extends beyond equipment supply, with the company supporting developer and operator Ampyr Energy through the construction phase as the facility moves toward operational readiness.
An ahead-of-schedule delivery provides additional time for installation and commissioning activities, potentially enabling earlier grid connection and earlier revenue generation for the project.
The Bulabul project operates under a distinctive commercial arrangement that differentiates it from typical battery storage financing structures in the Australian market. Ampyr Australia secured a 15-year battery storage agreement with Denmark-based energy trading company InCommodities valued at more than AU$450 million (US$318 milion), representing InCommodities’ first long-term commitment exceeding 10 years in Australia.
The commercial arrangement involves a capacity swap agreement covering up to 120MW of the project’s total 300MW power output.
Under this structure, Ampyr Australia serves as the developer, owner, and operator of the battery energy storage system. At the same time, InCommodities leverages its global trading expertise, spot market experience, and energy technology capabilities alongside Ampyr’s asset management and operational expertise.
The capacity swap model represents a departure from traditional power purchase agreements (PPAs) and merchant revenue structures that have dominated Australia’s battery energy storage market. It allows InCommodities to access battery capacity for energy arbitrage, frequency regulation and other grid services while providing Ampyr with long-term revenue certainty across a substantial portion of the project’s capacity.
The project’s development has prioritised community engagement throughout its approval and construction phases, including the implementation of a benchmark Aboriginal equity model that provides ongoing economic benefits to local Indigenous communities.
The arrangement resulted in the battery energy storage system being renamed from Wellington to Bulabul, with the Wambal Bila Indigenous Community Corporation holding the option to acquire a 5% equity stake in the project, representing an AU$22.5 million investment opportunity relative to the project’s total value.
Ampyr Australia began construction on the Bulabul project following extensive development and approval processes that included environmental assessments, grid connection studies and community consultation programs.
The project forms part of Ampyr’s expanding portfolio of battery energy storage developments across Australia, with the company recently acquiring a 540MW/2,160MWh grid-forming battery storage system project in South Australia that incorporates advanced technology, enabling enhanced grid stability services and support for renewable energy integration in areas with limited synchronous generation.
The Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 will be returning to Sydney on 18-19 March. It features keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics such as the Capacity Investment Scheme, long-duration energy storage, and BESS revenue streams. ESN Premium subscribers receive an exclusive discount on ticket prices.
To secure your tickets and learn more about the event, please visit the official website.
