Australia’s Victoria government has expedited plans for a 400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and a 500MW solar-plus-storage project through its Development Facilitation Program (DFP). The developer, Mint Renewables, is set to construct the 200MW/400MWh Dederang BESS in northeastern Victoria, near the town of Dederang along the Kiewa Valley Highway.
The BESS, which will occupy a four-hectare site, has faced opposition from the local community, prompting the Alpine Shire Council to officially oppose its development in February 2025. According to planning documents, the estimated cost for the BESS is approximately AU$280 million (US$182 million). It will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via the adjacent Dederang Terminal Station, located north of the planned site. Additionally, a separate BESS project by PV module manufacturer Trina Solar, featuring a capacity of 500MW/1,000MWh, will be situated directly south of the Dederang site.
A planning application for the Dederang BESS was submitted in November 2024 and is currently under review by the state planning department. Both BESS projects are located within the Ovens Murray Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which, along with five other REZs in Victoria, aims to unlock up to 10GW of new renewable energy capacity. Upon the commencement of operations, a community fund of AU$70,000 per year will be established for the Dederang BESS.
The DFP initiative, which was expanded last year to encompass renewable energy projects, is designed to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure in Victoria. Previously, projects had to go through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which delayed approximately 20% of these projects by an average of two years. Recently, the government has included several BESS sites in the scheme. For instance, last month, it was reported that ACEnergy’s 350MW/770MWh Little River BESS was included in the initiative. Additionally, Elgin Energy’s 500MWh Barwon Solar Farm, another solar-plus-storage site in the Little River region, was selected for the program the previous month.
In conjunction with the Dederang BESS, Venn Energy, a renewable energy developer, has also secured approval for its 500MW Cooba Solar Project under the DFP scheme. Located in Colbinabbin, a small rural town in Central Victoria, the project is expected to become operational in 2027. The site, known for its rich red volcanic soil from the nearby Mount Camel Range, has turned into a hub for vineyards. The solar PV power plant will be situated on a 1,147-hectare site, with approximately 665 hectares allocated for the project. If approved, the project will operate for 30 years and is favored for its excellent solar exposure and proximity to an existing transmission line. The BESS component will have a capacity of 300MW, with the duration to be determined by the developer.
Similar to the Dederang BESS, the local council, Campaspe Shire, has previously expressed opposition to the Cooba Solar Project. Project proponents are required to engage in consultations with neighboring property owners and relevant government agencies, including the Country Fire Authority, Agriculture Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and local water authorities.
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Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/victoria-expands-renewable-energy-initiatives-with-fast-tracked-400mwh-battery-storage-and-500mw-solar-project/
