APAC’s AI data centres look set to lock in a decade of coal and gas dependency, but long-duration energy storage can break that cycle, says Pavina Adunratanasee of ArkTerra Partners.

RWE Renewables Australia has officially opened the 50MW/400MWh Limondale battery energy storage system (BESS) near Balranald in south-west New South Wales.

Sembcorp Industries has completed its acquisition of Alinta Energy at a value of AU$6.5 billion (US$4.32 billion).

Gamuda Renewables has secured an interest in the 1,800MWh Hazelwood North solar-plus-storage project in Victoria, Australia.

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL will supply 2,400MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for Edify Energy’s Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap Solar Power Stations in central Queensland.

New Zealand’s Meridian Energy has received a draft decision proposing to ease access restrictions on contingent hydro storage at Lake Pūkaki.

Eku Energy has submitted its 1,000MWh Griffith battery energy storage system (BESS) for environmental assessment under Australia’s EPBC Act.

Ark Energy has received approval from AEMO and Transgrid to connect its 3,148MWh Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage site to the NEM.

Data centre developer DayOne has signed agreements through Malaysia’s government-launched Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS).

To avoid pitfalls that harm BESS investments, developers must sign well-structured contracts, writes Intertek CEA’s Yilin Huang.