The European consortium behind one of South Australia’s largest battery projects

Three of Europe’s leading renewable energy companies joined forces to design, develop, construct and manage the Blyth Battery, one of South Australia’s largest battery systems.

Neoen contracted NHOA Energy and Elecnor Australia to construct the 238 MW / 477 MWh battery, located near the town of Blyth in South Australia. It is Neoen’s second storage project in South Australia after the Hornsdale Power Reserve, the world’s first big battery.

At the time of starting operations in April 2025, Blyth Battery offered the largest energy storage capacity in the state. It can store energy for 2 hours (at full capacity) during peak times, helping reduce pressure on the electricity grid and increasing the reliability of renewable energy supply.

‘When transitioning away from fossil fuels, battery storage systems like the Blyth Battery will be fundamental to close the gap between renewable energy generation and customer demand,’ says Sarah Ostermann, Project Manager, NHOA Energy. 

‘The Blyth Battery project is going to support the local grid,’ she says. ‘So, for example, if you have higher solar generation during the day, the battery can charge and then discharge during times of high demand.’

Blyth Battery will not only contribute to the grid but also support Neoen’s first-ever renewable energy baseload contract with BHP, which allows round-the-clock energy to be supplied.

‘The Blyth Battery, in conjunction with our Goyder South Wind Farm, is delivering 70 MW baseload for BHP’s Olympic Dam operations,’ says George Schinckel, Senior Project Manager, Neoen.

The collaboration between Neoen, NHOA and Elecnor will help ensure the continuation of exports from Olympic Dam, one of the world’s most significant copper, uranium and gold deposits. 

A top destination for net zero investment

Neoen has been accelerating Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. It has contributed over 5 GW of renewable energy assets and invested more than A$7 billion in the Australian market.

In 2024, when the video above was filmed, Schinckel noted that ‘Neoen globally has a target of 10 GW in construction or operation by the end of 2025, and Australia makes up 50%, so it is a really significant proportion of our growth strategy globally.’

The Blyth Battery is one of several utility-scale renewables projects in Australia. S&P Global ranked Australia the world’s most attractive market for renewable energy investment in its annual Global Renewable Market Attractiveness Rankings. The ranking was driven by Australia’s high-quality solar resources and continued strong support from federal and state authorities. 

According to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan, the National Electricity Market requires 78 GW of grid-scale wind and solar, 31 GW of utility-scale storage, and close to 5,000 km of transmission over the next decade.

Investing in this infrastructure will help Australia secure long-term energy supply and remain on track to reach its legislated goal of net zero by 2050. For these reasons, Australia offers attractive opportunities in solar and wind generation, as well as energy storage and transmission.

‘Australia is an attractive place for clean energy investment as it needs such an aggressive increase in renewable energy projects to achieve net zero by 2050,’ says Megan Wark, Senior Civil Engineer, Elecnor Australia.

Sarah Ostermann, NHOA Energy’s Project Manager, agrees. ‘Australia has abundant renewable resources, and when you combine that with storage solutions, there is a great opportunity to move towards net zero.’ 

‘Our Australian projects have been vital for NHOA Energy to use as references, to learn lessons and deploy them across other projects,’ she adds.

Australia is a compelling renewables investment destination for several reasons.

‘Our abundance of sun, wind, land and critical minerals, coupled with our highly skilled workforce, world-class research institutions and high ESG standards, make Australia a fantastic place for net zero investment,’ says Dr Frances van Ruth, Head of Investment, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Austrade.

‘The Australian Government is working with states and territories to transform our energy system,’ she adds. ‘We’re building new clean energy industries, establishing new export supply chains, upskilling our workforce and forging global partnerships. 

‘The scale of this transformation presents significant opportunities for international companies looking to grow in Australia.’

How Austrade can help

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) supports foreign investors to establish and expand operations in Australia. Our experts in Australia and around the world can help you through every stage of your investment journey.

We offer the latest industry insights, connections with key stakeholders and decision-makers, and virtual or physical site visits to Australia. Thousands of foreign businesses have worked with us to tap into the Australian market. 

For information on net zero investment opportunities, contact an Austrade investment specialist.