EnergyAustralia has officially commenced construction of its 350MW/1,400MWh Wooreen Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Victoria, just days after achieving financial closure on February 20. This four-hour duration BESS is located in the Latrobe Valley and is being developed to partially replace EnergyAustralia’s 1,450MW Yallourn coal-fired power station, which is set to retire in mid-2028.
The financial closure for the project was secured on February 20, with construction expected to wrap up by 2027. Finnish marine and energy technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide the BESS solution, while Zenviron will handle the balance-of-plant design, construction, installation, and commissioning. Tilt Renewables is leading the development of the project.
Mark Collette, managing director of EnergyAustralia, emphasized that this BESS marks the company’s largest single project investment. He stated, “Wooreen will provide capacity to meet demand peaks while enabling more renewable energy to enter the electricity market, contributing to better customer energy outcomes.” Collette also expressed gratitude towards the Victorian and Australian governments for their support in reaching financial closure for the project, noting their crucial role.
EnergyAustralia initially announced the battery project in 2021, highlighting its role in maintaining reliable electricity supplies and ensuring the stable operation of the grid. When EnergyAustralia submitted its plans to the state’s Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning in 2022, the project was recognized as Australia’s first proposed four-hour duration system. The name “Wooreen,” meaning ‘light,’ was given by the Gunaikurnai Elders, the First Nations people of the land on which the system will be built.
Andrew Tang, vice-president of energy storage and optimization at Wärtsilä Energy, remarked on the significance of the project as a major step for EnergyAustralia in their efforts to decarbonize their asset portfolio while maintaining reliability for their customers. He noted, “Australia has already made great strides towards its decarbonization targets, and this project will further boost its renewable energy capacity.”
Last year, Tang discussed how Australia is emerging as a multi-gigawatt proving ground for BESS assets, stating, “The projects in Australia are at a scale that is not seen anywhere else in the world,” referring to the company’s involvement in New South Wales’ largest BESS project, the Eraring project.
For those interested in further developments in the energy storage sector, Solar Media will host the Energy Storage Summit Australia 2025 in Sydney from March 18-19, with a 20% discount available on tickets through their website.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/energyaustralia-launches-construction-of-350mw-1400mwh-battery-storage-system-in-victoria/
