Construction begins on 300 MWh Hazelwood 2 grid-forming battery in Australia

French clean energy developer Engie, owner of the Hazelwood battery energy storage system (BESS), Chinese clean energy technology manufacturer Sungrow and Spain-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Elecnor Australia have started building the 300 MWh Hazelwood 2 BESS extension.

The project in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley will feature 66 units of Sungrow’s ST5015-UX storage system, part of the PowerTitan 2.0 series, alongside 33 SC6900UD-MV power conversion system inverters and Sungrow’s EMS3000 smart controller.

According to Sungrow, the PowerTitan 2.0 system offers high energy density to optimize storage capacity and liquid-cooled technology to maintain stable operating temperatures and support system reliability.

Sungrow said advanced battery management supports battery safety, performance monitoring and long-term operational reliability, while the SC6900UD-MV inverters will support efficient power conversion and responsive grid support for utility-scale applications.

Sungrow Australia Managing Director Thomas Hou said the Hazelwood BESS 2 represents an important step in advancing grid-forming energy storage in Australia.

“Through our collaboration with Engie, we aim to bring advanced energy storage technology to support grid stability and enable greater integration of renewable energy,” Hou said. “We look forward to contributing our expertise and supporting the continued development of a more resilient energy system in Victoria.”

Once complete, the Hazelwood BESS projects 1 and 2 will have a combined 300 MW capacity, adding significant battery storage capacity to Victoria’s energy infrastructure and reinforcing Hazelwood’s role in providing flexible energy resources for Victoria and the National Electricity Market (NEM), which serves Australia’s eastern and southern states.

From pv magazine Australia