NSW Announces 1.4 GW Renewables’ Tender, RWE To Develop Battery Storage Project

Just as the provincial government of New South Wales, Australia, has announced the tender allocation results for 1.4 GW of renewables, global renewables major RWE has said that itwill develop storage project in the state.

RWE has been successful in the tender process offering Long-Term Energy Service Agreements to project developers of long duration storage projects. Its Limondale battery energy storage system with a planned installed capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) and 400 megawatt hours (MWh) has been awarded.

The Larger Tender Allocation

The contract allocation by NSW is first of a 10 year rolling programme. The state has offered two solar power projects, one wind energy farm and one battery energy storage system through Long Term Energy Service Agreements (LTESAs); RWE has the battery storage development contract. The total investment expected in this tender is about A$2.5 billion.

The objective of the tender is to replace the coal-fired power plants in the region and expedite the renewables expansion. ACEN will be developing 720 MW of New England Solar Farm and 400MW Stubbo Solar Farm. Goldwind Australia’s 275MW Coppabella Wind Farm will also be developed.

NSW is aiming at 12-GW of renewables by the end of this decade and it has an order book for 4.1GW now.

The RWE BESS Project

RWE said that the energy storage project will be located next to its existing 249 MWac Limondale Solar Farm with the project taking advantage of existing grid infrastructure. The project is currently working toward a final investment decision in the next 12 months.

New South Wales has set a bipartisan policy is for new renewable and storage capacity out to 2030.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said, “RWE supports New South Wales’ ambition and appreciates the dedication shown by the government in policy design and the professionalism of Australian Energy Market Operator Services Limited in implementation which enables the market to invest with confidence. This success creates further momentum working towards a sustainable future in our core market Australia.” He further added, “It is another milestone on our way to expand our global batteries portfolio to 3 gigawatts by 2030.”