ACEN Energy breaks ground 50-MW battery project within Aussie PV park

ACEN Australia, formerly known as UPC\AC Renewables Australia, has kicked off the installation of a 50-MW battery system at the site of its 720-MW New England solar park being built in New South Wales.

The project is set to create one of Australia’s largest co-located solar and battery energy storage complexes, ACEN Australia said on Tuesday.

The one-hour battery scheme is being realised with AUD 12.5 million (USD 8.9m/EUR 8.3m) in grant funding from the government of Australia. According to the developer, the facility could be scaled up to 200 MW with two hours of storage, or 400 MWh, depending on the consumer needs.

The first 400-MW/520-MW DC batch of capacity that will create the New England Solar park is currently under construction near Uralla in the New England region of New South Wales. It is due to become operational in 2023. Once fully commissioned, the 720-MW solar farm will be able to produce around 1,800 GWh of electricity annually.

UPC\AC Renewables was renamed ACEN Australia in March after Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corporation’s ACEN platform lifted to 80% its shareholding in the company. The renewables firm was previously a 50/50 joint venture with Hong Kong-based UPC Renewables. The Philippine firm’s intention is to become the sole owner of ACEN Australia by early 2023.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.709/EUR 0.664)

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