Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) developer Queensland Hydro has revealed a flurry of contracts today (17 September) to help progress the development of its 2GW Borumba project in Australia.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) confirmed last week (11 September) that the AUS$523 million Battery Breakthrough Initiative has opened a consultation into the scheme.

Utility Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) is to receive US$206 million from the US Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) programme to help develop three projects, including a 46MW/92MWh BESS in Fairbanks, Alaska.  

Construction has started at the 600MW/1,600MWh Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH), one of the largest energy storage projects in Victoria, Australia.

Six energy storage projects, totalling 3,626MWh of energy, have secured support via the Australian government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS).

AEMO has said that despite concerns about grid reliability in 2027-28, energy storage projects will help alleviate some of these concerns.

Today (29 August), the Victoria government announced it has streamlined the planning process to deliver the state’s “largest” battery energy storage system (BESS), ACEnergy’s 350MW/700MWh Joel Joel project.

Norway-based Morrow Batteries has signed an MOU with a Ukraine state body to supply LFP battery cells for shoring up the country’s conflict-stricken grid infrastructure.

Australian utility Origin Energy has started constructing its 300MW/650MW Mortlake battery energy storage system (BESS) in Victoria, Australia.

French independent power producer Neoen has achieved a key milestone in the development of its 200MW/400MWh Blyth grid-forming battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Australia.