Samsung C&T Proposes 400MWh Battery Energy Storage System in New South Wales, Australia

Samsung C&T Submits Plans for 400MWh BESS in Australia
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Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia has submitted plans for a 100MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in New South Wales. This proposal, which is currently under review by Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, is located approximately 30.6 kilometers south of Wagga Wagga, near the town of Mangoplah.

The planned BESS aims to provide electricity to the National Electricity Market (NEM), which serves Australia’s eastern and southern coasts, as well as Tasmania, during peak demand periods. The project is expected to have an operational lifespan of up to 30 years and will cover an area of 25 hectares.

Samsung C&T plans to utilize Tesla’s Megapack solution for this project, with the consideration of including 108 Megapacks in the system. Tesla’s Megapacks have already been deployed in various Australian BESS installations, including Edify Energy’s 370MWh Koorangie BESS in Victoria and Neoen’s 560MW/2,240MWh Collie BESS in Western Australia.

The company anticipates that the site establishment and construction phase for the battery storage project will last between 12 to 15 months, followed by a maintenance phase lasting 30 years.

### Integration with Renewable Energy Zones

The stand-alone BESS is also expected to benefit from the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), one of several such zones being developed in New South Wales. Earlier reports indicated that 3.56GW of solar PV, wind generation, and BESS projects were selected to connect to this REZ. Although the Mangoplah BESS is situated just outside this REZ, its development could lead to additional societal benefits, such as job creation and improved infrastructure. The developer noted that the REZ declaration will likely enhance the strategic significance of BESS installations in the Riverina region.

In addition, Samsung C&T is pursuing the 80MW/320MWh South Coree BESS project within the Riverina Murray Region of New South Wales, which will also connect to the NEM.

### Horizon Power’s Solar-Plus-Storage Project

On the opposite side of the country, Horizon Power has proposed a 55MWh solar-plus-storage project in Western Australia called the Derby Future Energy System. This initiative includes the development of a 21MWac solar PV power plant alongside a 10MW/55MWh BESS and an 8MW thermal power station. The project has also been submitted to the Australian government’s EPBC Act, and Horizon Power has expressed its intention to remain flexible regarding the project’s design.

Located approximately 2.5km south of Derby in the Kimberley region, this site is about 2,197km northeast of Perth, the state capital. Derby is noted for having the highest tides in Australia, with a tidal difference of up to 11.8 meters.

Horizon Power is committed to advancing BESS technologies in Western Australia to help maintain grid stability, especially as coal-fired power stations are phased out from the state’s Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM). There are two primary grids in Western Australia: the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which encompasses Perth and surrounding areas, and the North West Interconnected System (NWIS), primarily serving the Pilbara mining region. The solar-plus-storage site will connect to the NWIS.

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