At the 720MW New England site in New South Wales, Australia, Acen Australia, a producer of renewable energy, has begun work on a 200MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).

Advanced grid-forming inverters will be integrated into the BESS, which is provided by Energy Vault, a developer of energy storage technology, to offer network security, system strength, and stability. According to Acen, in order to link the BESS and the second phase of the solar project to Transgrid's transmission network, an enlarged switching yard is needed. In March 2023, the New England solar PV power facility began to operate.

There are two phases to the solar PV facility. The 400MW PV plant in the first stage is now up and running, while the further 320MW will be added in the second stage, which should be completed by 2026. Through a power purchase agreement signed in July 2024, this project provides electricity to BaptistCare, a non-profit care organization, and Asahi Beverages, a beverage firm owned by Japanese nationals.

The BESS connection is being carried out by Lumea, the commercial division of Transgrid, an Australian transmission system operator. By the middle of 2026, the last commissioning is anticipated to occur. Notably, Lumea is also working on the grid for Victoria's 1.6GWh Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub BESS.

Acen stated that the first stage of the New England solar PV facility will co-locate the 400MWh BESS. Acen has received clearance for the project's 1,400MW/2,800MWh of energy storage.