Energy Vault, ACEN Australia partner for 400 MWh BESS

Energy Vault and ACEN Australia have finalised key contractual arrangements for two battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 400 MWh in Australia. Construction for both projects is slated to commence in the latter half of 2024, with commercial operations expected to commence in 2025 and 2026. Furthermore, these agreements are in the final stages of procedural preparation and are anticipated to be formally executed and closed by the first half of May 2024.

According to the agreement, Energy Vault will deploy a 50 MW/100 MWh BESS and a 150 MW/300 MWh BESS at ACEN Australia’s 720 MW New England Solar facility. These BESS installations will be utilised for daily charging and discharging, strategically dispatching stored renewable energy during peak consumption periods to help address the heightened demand during New South Wales’ peak load hours, thereby reducing the region’s dependence on coal-fired power generation.

In April 2024, Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. and NV Energy announced the successful completion and commencement of commercial operations for the Reid Gardner Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located in Moapa, Nevada.