The 720MW New England solar project, still the largest solar project in the nation, has been followed by the start of construction on the first large-scale battery energy storage system in the New England region of New South Wales.

Acen Australia, a Philippine-controlled firm, has announced that Energy Vault, a California-based and Swiss-domiciled energy storage company, will build the 200 MW and 400 MWh batteries in two stages.

Planning clearance has been granted for a total of 1,400MW/2,800MWh of storage capacity for the New England project, with the possibility of future expansion to accommodate further energy storage and auxiliary services. Acen Australia won't decide how to move forward until this initial battery system is up and running, though.

Customers in Queensland and New South Wales will be able to access electricity on demand from the first 200MW/400MWh battery system once it is finished. The system will also use cutting-edge grid-forming inverters to offer network services, system strength, and stability. The battery storage sector in Australia is receiving a lot of attention globally, so we're thrilled to be contributing positively to this significant project, said Lucas Sadler, vice president of sales for Energy Vault for Asia.

Additionally, he mentioned that they would be utilizing lithium-ion technology in conjunction with a unique inverter, allowing them to incorporate sophisticated grid support features including reactive power regulation, grid assistance during disruptions, and voltage and frequency ridethrough.

In addition to creating a gravity storage technology, Energy Vault has secured contracts for early-stage battery projects at Stoney Creek and Meadow Creek, as well as the construction and operation of 100 MW/200 MWh batteries adjacent to the Horsham solar farm in Victoria.