Iberdrola secures key approval and beats objections for standalone 1 GWh four-hour BESS in Australia

A key planning body has approved development of the 270 MW Kingswood battery energy storage system (BESS) project being developed near Tamworth, a key regional city in Australia’s east.

The estimated $458 million (USD 320 million) project, planned for an eight-hectare site of largely cleared rural land some six kilometers southeast of Tamworth, about 400 km north of Sydney, was recommended for approval by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in December.

However, the project was referred to the state’s Independent Planning Commission (IPC), but after attracting at least 50 submissions objecting to its development.

The New South Wales (NSW) IPC has now, after meeting with the local council and relevant government agencies, conducting a site inspection and locality tour, and hosting a community meeting, granted consent to the project.

In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission said: “the application is consistent with statutory requirements, is consistent with NSW government policies, and potential impacts can be managed or mitigated through the imposition of conditions of consent.”

The IPC said concerns about noise, traffic and transport, land use compatibility, hazards and visual amenity had all been addressed and highlighted that the project would support grid stability and energy security in the region.

“The provision of 270 MW / 1,080 MWh of firming capacity to the state’s electricity network would assist in managing fluctuations in energy supply, thereby improving grid stability and energy security, aligning with NSW government commitments to transition to renewable energy,” it said.

Iberdrola is targeting the start of construction by early 2027 with the project, recently awarded a long-term energy services agreement (LTESA) by the NSW government, expected to be online before 2030.

The Kingswood project is part of Iberdola’s expanding Australian renewable energy portfolio, which has now reached 2.5 GW total owned capacity and 2.74 GW total operating capacity.

Among Iberdrola’s operating assets are the 190 MW Avonlie Solar Farm and the 65 MW / 130 MWh Smithfield battery in NSW. In South Australia, it has the 25 MW / 52 MWh Lake Bonney battery in South Australia and the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park, a combination of 217 MW of wind and 110 MW of solar.

From pv magazine Australia.