Chinese PV module manufacturer Trina Solar has received the green light from the Victoria government in Australia to build a 500MW/1,000MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Trina Solar will build the Kiewa Valley BESS in the northeastern part of the Australian state, in the Murray-Darling basin, to the east of Melbourne, the state capital.
It is located within the Ovens Murray Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which aims to bolster the state’s efforts to decarbonise by increasing the amount of available energy storage capacity on the National Electricity Market (NEM).
State premier Jacinta Allan announced the approval during a visit to Beijing this week, where she met with Trina Solar representatives to discuss the AU$453 million (US$300 million) project.
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The project represents a milestone in Victoria’s China Strategy, which aims to position the state as the preferred destination for Chinese clean energy investment in Australia.
According to the state government, the strategy specifically targets collaboration with Chinese businesses to achieve Victoria’s renewable energy goals, including its target of 95% renewable energy by 2035.
“This BESS is another way we’re shoring up energy supply and assisting our transition to 95%renewable energy by 2035,” Premier Allan stated during the announcement.
The Kiewa Valley BESS will have the capacity to store excess solar and wind power during periods of high generation and release it back to the grid during peak demand periods.
This approval follows Trina Solar’s planning application submission for the project last year. The company has been expanding its energy storage portfolio in Australia, with additional projects under development in Western Australia (660MW/2,640MWh) and South Australia (270MW/540MWh).
The Kiewa Valley project will occupy approximately 10 hectares and utilise existing transmission infrastructure, minimising additional land requirements and grid connection costs.
The Victorian government confirmed that the approval includes conditions to manage bushfire risk, noise, and visual impacts, addressing concerns raised by some local residents.
Trina Solar’s investment in Victoria represents part of its larger goal to achieve 6.5GW of installed renewable energy capacity across Australia. Vertically integrated solar PV manufacturer Trina Solar acts as developer on some projects across solar and energy storage, its BESS technology is manufactured and integrated by its Trina Storage arm.
Kiewa Valley BESS fast-tracked via the Development Facilitation Program
The approval of the Kiewa Valley BESS marks the second major battery storage project to have been greenlit for the Kiewa Valley region this year, following the approval of a 400MWh BESS at Dederang being developed by Mint Renewables.
Both projects have been fast-tracked through Victoria’s Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which has accelerated over 19 renewable energy and storage projects worth approximately AU$5 billion.
The Victoria government’s DFP initiative, which was expanded last year to include renewable energy projects, aims to speed up the development of critical infrastructure projects in Victoria. Before its inclusion, projects had to pass through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which saw around 20% of these projects delayed by around two years.
Over the past few months, the government has selected several BESS sites for inclusion in the scheme. For instance, Energy-Storage.news reported that developer ACEnergy saw its 350MW/770MWh Little River BESS included within the scheme.
Victoria seeks closer collaboration with China
Victoria’s engagement with China on clean energy projects comes as the country continues to dominate global renewable energy development. The government said China currently accounts for more than 60% of new global renewable energy capacity through its expanding solar, battery storage and EV industries.
The Victorian government’s China Strategy emphasises regional Victoria as a beneficiary of Chinese investment, with clean energy projects like the Kiewa Valley BESS positioned to deliver economic benefits beyond metropolitan areas.
This approach forms part of what Premier Allan described as a “five-year roadmap to open doors for Victorian businesses and ensure the benefits flow across the state.”
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