A 130MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) owned by the Australian arm of Spain-based utility and independent power producer (IPP) Iberdrola has officially entered AEMO’s Market Management System.
Geoff Eldridge, National Electricity Market (NEM) and energy transition observer at consultancy Global Power Energy, said that the 65MW 2-hour duration BESS, located in New South Wales, has shown “readiness for commissioning”.
The Smithfield BESS is located in the Smithfield suburb, approximately 30km west of Sydney’s central business district. It will be co-located with the existing operational 123MW Smithfield Open Cycle Gas Turbine Gas Peaker plant, which Iberdrola Australia also owns.
The Smithfield BESS project includes battery and inverter units, medium voltage transformers, the replacement of a 33kV electrical switchboard, an upgrade to the SCADA control board, and improvements to the existing 33kV powerline connection with Endeavour Energy infrastructure.
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Iberdrola also confirmed that the Smithfield BESS has been approved as a State Significant Development (SSD) by the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment.
SSDS are often defined as large-scale developments that exceed specific thresholds in terms of size or capital investment value or are located in environmentally sensitive areas.
These projects undergo a comprehensive assessment process managed by state-level planning departments rather than local councils. This process involves environmental impact statements, public exhibitions, and agency consultations.
According to Iberdrola, the BESS will be operational by December 2025. Victoria-headquartered ACLE Services has been selected by Iberdrola to deliver the balance of plant (BoP) installation contract and manage construction.
Iberdrola Australia is developing several utility-scale battery storage systems, including the 270MW/1,080MWh Kingswood battery project near Tamworth, New South Wales.
This represents the group’s largest BESS in Australia to date. It will feature a 4-hour storage duration to address longer-term grid support needs.
Meanwhile, in Queensland, the group is pursuing the 250MW/500MWh Gin Gin project near Bundaberg, which will feature grid-forming technology.
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