Acen plans 1.76 GWh battery in Australian coal country

Renewables developer Acen Australia has filed for approval under the federal government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) for a 440 MW/1.76 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS), featuring grid-forming inverter technology, near Emerald in Queensland’s Central Highlands region.

The proposed Lilyvale BESS would be built on a 151-hectare site about 52 km northeast of Emerald, an area that Acen says is dominated by existing coal mine operations to both the north and south.

In its application under the EPBC, Acen says the Lilyvale project will comprise 512 battery containers, 128 inverters, and 128 medium-voltage power stations and associated electrical and control equipment. The asset is to connect into the National Electricity Market via network operator Ergon Energy’s adjacent Lilyvale substation.

Acen said the project is a strategic asset that will support Queensland’s transition to renewable energy with its advanced grid-forming inverter technology to improve the reliability and system strength of the regional transmission network.

“Lilyvale BESS is designed to draw energy from the grid when demand is low and dispatch it during periods of higher demand,” it said. “This supports grid balance, efficiency, and system stability.”

The progress on the Lilyvale project comes as Acen announced that its subsidiary Acen International has secured $100 million in financing to support its expansion in Australia and other international markets.

In a filing, the company said it had completed the signing of a facility agreement with the Singapore branch of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Bank for $100 million that will “finance and/or refinance investments in existing and future renewable energy projects outside the Philippines.”

Aside from the Philippines and Australia, Acen has projects in various countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India.

The company said 3.6 GW of its renewables portfolio is now fully operational with an additional 500 MW at the commissioning stage. Another 2.4 GW of projects is under construction globally, with an additional 514 MW of committed capacity, composed of projects with signed tenders or agreements.

From pv magazine Australia.