EnergyAustralia has received development approval from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure for its proposed Mt Piper Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Lithgow in New South Wales. The project, near Mt Piper Power Station, uses EnergyAustralia land to improve the state’s energy grid reliability and capacity.
Project Overview and Capacity
The Mt Piper BESS will integrate with regional infrastructure to provide a grid-scale battery, dispatching 500 MW for four hours. The system will store renewable energy and release it during peak demand, providing a reliable electricity source when needed.
Once operational, the BESS could supply enough energy to power up to 320,000 homes and small businesses for four hours.
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Local Economic Impact
The Mt Piper BESS project will generate significant economic benefits, enhancing regional growth, job creation, and local development opportunities. It will create 177 construction jobs, with EnergyAustralia estimating a $1 billion capital investment into the New South Wales economy. This capital infusion will boost the local community, generating jobs and economic activity during the project’s development phase.
EnergyAustralia will begin construction of the Mt Piper BESS in 2026. Once completed, the system will improve the security and reliability of the NSW electricity grid, meeting the state’s rising energy needs. The BESS will store surplus energy from off-peak periods, providing a steady power supply during peak demand as the state shifts to renewable energy.
BESS is crucial for renewable energy, storing power from sources like wind and solar. The Mt Piper BESS will help maintain grid stability and support NSW’s long-term energy sustainability and resilience.
Also read: Redeux Energy Partners Sells Hybrid Solar and Battery Storage Project to Scout Clean Energy
Lake Lyell Pumped Hydro Project
The Mt Piper BESS approval follows a similar development milestone for EnergyAustralia’s Lake Lyell Pumped Hydro Project, also located near Lithgow. The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has declared the project Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI).
EnergyAustralia will build the Mt Piper BESS on its own land and will not require new transmission lines. The pumped hydro system will have a proposed capacity of 335 MW for up to eight hours, with a flexible capacity of over 400 MW for shorter durations, enough to power at least 150,000 homes.