Collie Battery triples in size to become Australia’s largest

The Collie Battery project in Western Australia is tripling in size to become the country's largest battery. Once up and running, the battery will provide short duration storage during peak times to stabilise the grid.?Securing contracts from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO),?French renewable energy and storage developer Neoen?is moving forward with the construction of the second stage of the battery, boasting a capacity of 341 MW and a storage capacity of 1,363 MWh. Our Brunel colleagues - particularly Jackson Merrey - have worked closely with the Collie Battery project and are invested in the successful transition towards a renewable future.

This expansion is driven by the pressing need to address various challenges confronting the region, including the retirement of aging coal-fired generators and the flattening solar duck curve.

What is the duck curve?

The duck curve is a graph, representing the power produced over 24hrs and the imbalance between peak energy demand and solar power supply.

The combined capacity of Neoen's Collie battery stages will reach 560 MW and 2,240 MWh, and with construction already underway, the Collie battery is projected to be operational by late 2025,?playing a significant role in stabilising the South West Interconnected System. The project is contracted to provide essential system services by soaking up solar energy during the day and discharging it during evening peaks. Neoen's success in securing contracts reflects the growing demand for long-duration storage solutions amid transitioning energy networks.

But Neoen's endeavours extend beyond the Collie battery project. The company's portfolio in Australia encompasses 1.3 GW of solar, 1.1 GW of wind, and 1.7 GW / 4.2 GWh of battery energy storage spread across six states and territories. With ambitious plans to reach 10 GW of capacity under operation or construction by 2030, Neoen is poised to play an important role in Australia’s transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Neoen’s focus on long-term storage solutions positions it as a key driver of innovation and progress in renewables.

For more information visit Renew Economy.