RWE to build Australia’s first eight-hour battery

Essen/Melbourne, 28 May 2024

Leading global renewables player RWE has today announced its investment decision to build Australia’s first eight-hour battery near Balranald, in New South Wales (NSW). RWE’s eight-hour lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was the only successful project in New South Wales’ first Long Duration Storage Long-Term Energy Service Agreements tender process, and was awarded a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement.

With a planned capacity of 50+ megawatts (MW) and 400+ megawatt hours (MWh), the Limondale BESS will support the energy transition by storing excess renewable energy and feeding it into the NSW grid when it is needed most. The project will be located next to RWE’s 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm – which is one of Australia’s largest. The BESS will connect to existing grid infrastructure.

Tesla has been selected as the BESS supplier, and Beon Energy Solutions as the delivery partner for the Balance of Plant, which includes the civil, structural, electrical and control works required to connect the Megapack to the existing 33kV substation. Construction is scheduled to start in the second half of this year, with commissioning planned for late 2025.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “RWE’s investment decision and signing of supplier contracts for the Limondale BESS project is an exciting step forward in our commitment to the Australian renewables sector and support of New South Wales’ renewable energy ambitions. As a battery storage pioneer, RWE develops, builds and operates innovative and competitive battery storage systems in Europe and the US, and soon here in Australia. We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to help realise the country’s renewable energy goals.”

RWE in Australia

Australia is one of RWE’s focus markets, where it has been present since 2013. In 2018, the company began construction of the Limondale solar farm in Balranald, New South Wales. With an installed capacity of 249 MWac the large-scale solar farm is made up of 872,000 panels and generates enough electricity to power about 105,000 homes per year. Full commercial operation started in 2021. RWE’s Australian team of more than 70 is currently developing a portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage projects across the country, supported by the global RWE team. RWE intends to develop up to 3 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in Australia by 2030.

RWE invests in battery storage worldwide

As a driver of the energy transition, RWE develops, builds and operates battery storage systems in Europe, the United States and Australia. Currently, the company operates battery storage systems with an overall capacity of more than 700 MW and 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage projects under construction worldwide. The company recently commissioned three U.S. battery storage projects totalling 190 MW. As an integral part of its Growing Green strategy, RWE plans to expand its battery storage capacity to 6 GW worldwide by 2030.

RWE
RWE is leading the way to a green energy world. With its investment and growth strategy Growing Green, RWE is contributing significantly to the success of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system. Around 20,000 employees work for the company in almost 30 countries worldwide. RWE is already one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. Between 2024 and 2030, RWE will invest 55 billion euros worldwide in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy, batteries, flexible generation, and hydrogen projects. By the end of the decade, the company’s green portfolio will grow to more than 65 gigawatts of generation capacity, which will be perfectly complemented by global energy trading. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5-degree reduction pathway and will phase out coal by 2030. RWE will be net-zero by 2040. Fully in line with the company’s purpose - Our energy for a sustainable life.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations and assumptions of management, and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee the occurrence of future results and developments and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and developments may deviate materially from the expectations and assumptions expressed in this document due to various factors. These factors primarily include changes in the general economic and competitive environment. Furthermore, developments on financial markets and changes in currency exchange rates as well as changes in national and international laws, in particular in respect of fiscal regulation, and other factors influence the company’s future results and developments. Neither the company nor any of its affiliates undertakes to update the statements contained in this press release.