EIGHT-HOUR BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM REGISTERED IN AUSTRALIA

WE Renewables Australia has successfully registered the country’s first eight-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Limondale Solar Farm near Balranald in New South Wales. The system consists of 144 Tesla Megapacks, providing over 50 megawatts (MW) of power capacity and 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage, making it the longest-duration grid-scale battery currently operating in Australia.

   The Limondale BESS is located adjacent to the 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm, one of the largest solar farms in Australia. The battery system connects to the existing 33 kV transmission infrastructure at the site. This project was the first to secure a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) through New South Wales’ Long Duration Storage tender, highlighting its role in supporting the state’s renewable energy integration.  The battery will store excess renewable energy generated during peak solar production hours and discharge it during high-demand periods, thereby enhancing grid stability and enabling greater use of renewables. The system is transitioning from construction to hold point testing and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025.