Neoen wins development permit for 140-MW battery in Tasmania

September 26 (Renewables Now) - France’s Neoen (EPA:NEOEN) has been granted approval to start building the first phase of what is planned to become a 280-MW/560-MWh battery energy storage complex in Tasmania, Australia.

The green light for the Great Lakes Battery’s first stage, of 140 MW/280 MWh in size, has been recently awarded by the Northern Midlands Council. The positive decision will enable Neoen to kick off construction works by mid-to-late 2024, local media reports.

Set to create Tasmania’s first grid-connected big battery, the project will be located near the town of Poatina, around 50km south of Launceston, within the state’s proposed Central Highlands Renewable Energy Zone. With building works expected to take around 18 months, with the facility to be hooked to the grid in 2026.

Great Lakes Battery’s first stage will provide rapid-response services and help stabilise the local grid, thus allowing the wider adoption of renewable energy capacity in Tasmania. Neoen’s planning application states that the system will deliver frequency control and load shifting services.

The project is aligned with the Tasmanian government’s goal to double the state’s renewable energy output to reach 200% of its electricity needs by 2040, based on 2022 figures. The development of its second phase is dependent on external market factors, the French firm says.