Major Australian energy generator-retailer EnergyAustralia has reached financial close on its 250MWh Hallett battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Australia.

Owner-operator Fidra Energy came out of virtually nowhere to be building one of Europe’s largest BESS in the UK, the 1.4GW/3.1GWh Thorpe Marsh project. We catch up with CEO Chris Elder, about its strategy and projects but also broader BESS and clean energy financing trends.

Fidra Energy has secured £1 billion for the largest BESS in the UK, while EDF and Elements Green have agreed a toll for a 720MWh system.

Spanish developer and independent power producer (IPP) Zelestra has reached financial close for its hybrid 1GWh BESS and solar PV plant in Chile.

Project owners BSTOR and Energy Solutions Group have started building separate BESS projects totalling 440MWh of capacity in Belgium, following financial close, both of which will use Tesla Megapacks.

Macquarie-backed Eku Energy has completed the financing on its first battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Japan.

Australia’s national Clean Energy Finance Corporation has invested to help a 100MW/200MWh battery storage project reach financial close.

News in brief from a busy week for the UK’s energy storage industry.

Africa-based independent power producer (IPP) Globeleq said financial close has been achieved on a solar PV project in Mozambique which will be integrated with energy storage. 

Financial close has been reached for a 25MW / 100MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Belgium which has also been successful in a grid capacity auction alongside gas-fired power plants.