EnergyAustralia has received development approval from the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to progress its Mt Piper BESS (battery energy storage system) project, near Lithgow.
The proposed project site is on previously cleared land owned by EnergyAustralia, south of the Mt Piper Power Station.
The project will connect into nearby, existing electricity infrastructure to develop a grid-scale battery with the capacity to dispatch up to 500MW of power over a duration of up to four hours.
EnergyAustralia said the project will provide flow-on benefits for the local community, including up to 177 construction jobs. EnergyAustralia estimates the project will inject a total capital investment of approximately $1 billion into the New South Wales economy.
The Mt Piper BESS will commence construction in 2026 and will help supply New South Wales customers with a reliable source of electricity when demand is high, adding security and reliability to the energy grid. At full capacity, the BESS could provide energy for up to 320,000 homes and small businesses for four hours.
EnergyAustralia said battery energy storage systems will play an essential role in the transition to renewable energy.
