RWE Receives Final Approval To Operate Australia’s First Eight-Hour Battery System At Full Capacity In New South Wales

RWE has received formal approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the transmission network service provider Transgrid to operate Australia’s first eight-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at full capacity. Known as the Limondale BESS, the project consists of 144 Tesla Megapacks and is uniquely registered to charge at 100 megawatts (MW) and discharge at 50 MW.

With the ability to sustain its maximum discharge for more than eight hours, the system provides at least 400 megawatt hours (MWh) of storage capacity, making it the longest-duration battery currently operating in Australia.After completing its commissioning phase, the Limondale BESS successfully passed all grid compliance and performance testing, showing that it can operate safely and reliably at maximum output.

The battery is located next to the RWE Limondale Solar Farm near Balranald in southern New South Wales. Its operation helps ease stress on the electricity network during periods of high demand, contributing to a more flexible and secure energy system.Sopna Sury, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said the company is proud to deliver a project of this scale and importance.

She noted that the Limondale BESS represents a major step forward for long-duration energy storage in Australia and strengthens the resilience of the national electricity system. She also acknowledged the contributions of the RWE project team, partners, the New South Wales Government and AEMO in ensuring the battery was delivered safely and effectively.

The project’s eight-hour design was developed in response to the New South Wales Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. It became the first to receive a Long Duration Storage (LDS) Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) during the initial tender conducted by ASL, a subsidiary of AEMO.

This recognition reflects the project’s early leadership in long-duration storage and its role in supporting the state’s energy transition and greater integration of renewable energy. Alongside Tesla, RWE collaborated with Beon Energy Solutions, Lumea and Transgrid to complete the development.RWE has been active in Australia since 2013 and considers the country one of its key markets.

In 2021, it commissioned the Limondale Solar Farm in Balranald, a 314 MWac facility made up of 872,000 panels, capable of supplying electricity to around 105,000 households each year. The company’s Australian team is currently advancing a pipeline of wind, solar and battery storage projects, supported by RWE’s global expertise.

Among these is the Theodore Wind Farm in Queensland, a planned 1 GW project that has secured Development Approval and is progressing through federal environmental assessment processes.More broadly, RWE develops, builds and operates battery storage systems across the United States, Europe and Australia.

The company already manages 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of installed battery capacity, with an additional 2.5 GW under construction. Expanding battery storage globally remains a central element of RWE’s growth strategy, as it continues to invest in technologies that enhance the stability and sustainability of modern energy systems.