Neoen builds its sixth big battery in Australia

French renewables giant Neoen will start building its sixth big battery in Australia. The battery will be the company’s first major project in Western Australia.

It will also be Neoen’s first 4-hour long-duration battery globally. Long-duration storage is increasingly needed as the world transitions to renewable energy.

Helping Western Australia decarbonise

The 219 MW / 877 MWh battery will be located near the town of Collie in the southwest region of Western Australia. It will connect to Western Power’s Shotts Terminal substation. The battery’s construction will create around 120 jobs and opportunities for local suppliers.

The Collie Battery will enable Neoen to fulfil a services contract awarded by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

The contract will run for 2 years from 1 October 2024. It will provide 197 MW of storage capacity for 4 hours, charging during the day and then discharging across the evening peak. This will address the risks around the retirement of coal power plants and increasingly high penetration of rooftop solar in Western Australia.

‘This is an exciting time for Neoen as it is our first major project in Western Australia,’ says Louis de Sambucy, Neoen Australia’s CEO. ‘With our growing team in Perth and a strong pipeline of projects, we look forward to playing an increasingly significant role in the state’s rapid decarbonisation.’

The battery is expected to start operating in Q4 2024.

A leading battery developer, owner and operator in Australia

Neoen is Australia’s leading owner of big batteries. The company has over 1.1 GW of storage assets in operation or under construction. It owns and operates the:

• 300 MW / 450 MWh Victorian Big Battery in Victoria
• 150 MW / 193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia.

Neoen is building the:

• 100 MW / 200 MWh Capital Battery in the Australian Capital Territory
• 200 MW / 400 MWh Blyth Battery in South Australia
• 200 MW / 400 MWh Western Downs Battery in Queensland.

Find out more about Neoen’s operations in Australia.