Gentari and PCL Construction turn first sod on DC-coupled 409 MWh solar-plus-storage project in Australia

Malaysia-headquartered clean energy solutions provider Gentari has broken ground on the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage (MSES) project in the heart of a key zone in Australia’s state of New South Wales, called the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ).

Located 364 kilometers northwest of Sydney, the hybrid renewable energy facility will integrate a 243 MWp solar installation with a 172 MW/409 MWh BESS.

Gentari Australia head Claire Elkin said the Maryvale project represents the company’s commitment to accelerating Australia’s energy transition with reliable, dispatchable renewable energy.

“As one of the first large-scale DC-coupled solar and storage projects in the country, it embodies our ambition to deliver clean energy solutions at scale while supporting grid resilience.”

Gentari and PCL Construction leaders break ground at the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage Facility, in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. Image: Gentari

The project is being delivered by Canada-headquartered PCL Construction’s Solar Division, appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, while the solar modules are being supplied through direct procurement from Trinasolar and the battery systems from Contemporary Amperex Technology Australia, a subsidiary of China-headquartered CATL.

MSES has a long-term energy service agreement (LTESA) with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) Services, which was awarded through Tender 4 under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.

Once operational, MSES is anticipated to deliver up to 172 MW of dispatchable clean electricity.

Project Maryvale is one of the largest DC-coupled solar and battery hybrid projects under construction in Australia and allows the project to maximize excess solar generation by directly charging the BESS while delivering smoother, scheduled generation.

The project adds to Gentari’s clean energy portfolio in Australia, which now includes 814 MW of solar and solar-hybrid projects installed and under construction in Queensland, Victoria, and NSW.