Australia has just launched one of the largest batteries in the world, with a storage capacity of 1.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) and the ability to supply electricity to up to 200,000 homes during the evening peak. The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub is a battery and solar facility near Hillside, about 17 miles (28 kilometers) northwest of Melbourne s central business district.
It provides 600 megawatts (MW) of capacity and 1.6 gigawatt-hours of storage. Co-owned by the State Electricity Commission (SEC) Victoria and Equis Australia, it features 444 Tesla Megapack units across three battery storage systems.
Two systems reportedly have a 200 MW capacity and a 2-hour storage duration. The third system delivers the same amount of power but with a four-hour storage duration. Chris Miller, SEC CEO, said that the hub is expected to add major storage capacity to the nation s transitioning power system. Australia s giant grid battery Equis Australia emphasized that the USD 730 million (AUD 1.1 billion) project was delivered on time and on budget.
In addition to the 444 Tesla Megapack battery units, the site includes three Toshiba 500 kilovolt (kV) transformers. It also includes a world-first underground 500 kV cable connecting the site to the National Electricity Market (NEM) high-voltage transmission network.
As per Miller, the site sits at the intersection of major Victorian transmission corridors. This enables stored energy to flow directly into some of the state s busiest power routes. The Hub will soak up excess wind and solar power during the daytime and shift that energy to the evening peaks when we need it most, he noted. SEC officials reported that the battery system stores energy when wind and solar generation across the NEM is high, and then sends that power back to the grid when demand rises or renewable output drops.
Powering peak demand Construction of the facility began in December 2023. It created job and training opportunities for more than 1,200 workers. What s more, around 20 per cent of the total working hours on the project were performed by over 70 trainees and apprentices. During construction, the project prioritized local businesses.
More than a dozen Melbourne-based firms contributed services and supplies, including electrical work, civil construction, traffic management, landscaping, and building materials. I commend our partner, Equis Australia, together with all suppliers, contractors, and delivery partners who worked tirelessly to deliver the Hub to market on time and on budget, Miller concluded in a press release.
Miller stated that the SEC s USD 160 million (AUD 245 million) funding was crucial to the hub s construction and helped it reach its full capacity. It is reportedly the SEC s first investment under its initial USD 663 million (AUD 1 billion) commitment to develop 4.5 gigawatts of new renewable energy and storage capacity.
Today s milestone shows that when industry and government work together, we can deliver complex, large-scale infrastructure that strengthens the grid, creates jobs, and helps reduce power prices for consumers, David Russell, Equis managing director, said.
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