Australia: Octopus Australia has announced the acquisition of what it calls Australia’s largest planned battery energy storage system (BESS), the Hanworth Battery Energy Storage System, near Bannaby, west of Bowral in New South Wales. The 1.2 GW / 4.8 GWh facility will surpass existing projects like Origin Energy’s 760 MW / 3,160 MWh Eraring BESS and Akaysha Energy’s 850 MW / 1,680 MWh Waratah Super Battery once completed.
Hanworth will connect to Transgrid’s Bannaby Terminal Station and the National Electricity Market (NEM), providing enough storage to power over half a million homes during evening peak demand periods. The project aims to support long-term renewable energy supply contracts for large customers, offering low-emissions electricity at stable prices. The asset was acquired from Australian developer Enervest, whose CEO Ross Warby noted the transaction reflects the value of the company’s development portfolio.
In a simultaneous deal, Octopus Australia acquired the Dunmore Solar Farm and Battery project in Queensland from Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia. The hybrid project combines a 300 MW solar PV plant with a 150 MW / 300 MWh battery, capturing surplus daytime solar power and discharging it during evening peaks.
Octopus Australia’s CEO Sam Reynolds highlighted the company’s focus on replacing retiring coal-fired plants with renewable alternatives: “Australia still needs new power stations to replace ageing coal plants. Today we can build them using solar, wind and batteries instead of smokestacks.”
Octopus Australia retains full ownership of its assets, allowing operational flexibility and consistent power supply while reducing exposure to wholesale market fluctuations. The company’s strategy has attracted major institutional investors, including the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, APG, Rest, and Hostplus, and reinforces its growing presence in NSW and Queensland.
Source: Energy Storage News
