As Australia’s energy landscape undergoes rapid transformation, the supporting infrastructure must evolve to keep pace.
A major challenge in the Australian electricity sector’s renewable transformation is the seamless integration of renewable energy – particularly solar and wind – into an aging and capacity-constrained grid.
The task is further complicated by geographical constraints, regulatory hurdles, and the need for robust technical solutions that cover both performance and cost-effectiveness.
Enter the Kiewa Valley BESS (Battery Energy Storage System), a collaboration between Beca and Trina Solar. Designed as a 500 MW/1GWh storage solution with a 330kV transmission connection to the AusNet Dederang Terminal Station (DDTS), the project will not only store renewable energy but dispatch during peak demand periods.
At full capacity, that’s enough electricity supply to approximately 700,000 households for up to two hours. By stabilising the grid and enabling greater integration of renewables, it aims to lower energy costs for Victorian communities over time.
This project is an example of how engineering foresight and strategic collaboration can overcome industry challenges while setting a new standard for grid-ready energy solutions.
Addressing the most pressing challenges
With increasing reliance on solar and wind, the need for scalable, reliable storage solutions has never been more urgent. Yet, delivering these projects is far from being straightforward.
The Kiewa Valley site presented a complex mix of constraints: agricultural zoning, wildfire risk, and proximity to pre-existing transmission infrastructure. Beca developed a solution that met technical and legal criteria requirements, laying the groundwork for future, risk-mitigated project stages.
Recognising the need for early-stage clarity, Trina engaged Beca to develop a concept design that would allow timely input and approval from AusNet. The collaboration focused on key elements like the transmission connection, network capacity availability and electrical balance of plant, enabling development of preliminary equipment specifications for the BESS.
This also informed key inputs into the Development Approval and Generator Performance Standards workstreams, two critical path activities in project development. This proactive approach significantly de-risked the project for Trina, enabling a faster, more confident investment decision.
A key challenge was overcoming constraints along the transmission route, including existing overhead transmission lines entering DDTS, private property and underground services.
Beca’s proposed solution had to consider minimising impacts to:
- Operation and maintenance of the existing transmission line
- Clashes with underground services
- Vegetation clearing
In addition, Beca’s deep understanding of the Victorian transmission network and longstanding relationship with AusNet, allowed them to leverage the right information for Trina to develop a technically acceptable solution that balances cost against performance.
Strategic engineering as a differentiator
This wasn’t a case of engineering in isolation. It was an example of how technical due diligence and strong collaboration early in the project development lifecycle is crucial to assessing project viability before committing to significant development funding.
Beca’s concept design has been used to inform the Development Approval submission by Trina as part of the required planning and approvals process, as well as enabling early-stage Generator Performance Standards studies to commence with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), as part of the grid connection process.
A scalable model for the energy transition
The Kiewa Valley BESS is more than a successful project; it’s a replicable model for how Australia can meet its renewable energy targets. It shows that with the right expertise and a collaborative mindset the sector can overcome legacy constraints and deliver infrastructure that is both future-proof and investment-ready.
As Australia continues its journey toward decarbonisation, projects like Kiewa Valley will play an essential role in shaping an energy grid that is resilient yet responsive to evolving demands. Through leadership in innovative engineering solutions like this one, firms like Beca can play a strategic role in driving progress in the renewable energy sector.
Find out more about Beca’s renewables and transmission capability in Australia and New Zealand.
