Grid-scale BESS on track for Wellington, NSW

AMPYR, a new independent Australian power producer, has achieved financial close on its 300 MW/600 MWh Wellington Stage 1 battery energy storage system (BESS) project in regional New South Wales.

AMPYR said it was on track to deliver more than 6 GWh of energy storage projects by 2030, including the Wellington Stage 1 BESS along with an additional 100 MW/400 MWh in Stage 2, providing a total 1 GWh of energy storage in the region by 2027.

The company has signed a 10-year virtual offtake agreement with ZEN Energy for 150 MW of the Wellington Stage 1 BESS capacity. This will provide flexibility in capacity contracting for AMPYR while enabling ZEN to firm its portfolio of sustainability-driven customers.

The CEO of ZEN Energy, Anthony Garnaut, said, “Virtual tolling agreements signal a maturing of the renewable energy transition and deliver shared value for ZEN Energy and AMPYR. This is the first battery we have contracted in New South Wales, and our share of Wellington Stage 1 is big enough to double the size of the customer volume we serve.”

The Wellington Stage 1 BESS will be delivered by energy storage and software company Fluence, using its advanced Gridstack grid-scale energy storage product. Fluence has also entered into a 20-year operational service contract to service and maintain the Wellington Stage 1 BESS, with revenues to be optimised by Mosaic (Fluence’s AI-powered revenue optimisation software) and Nispera (Fluence’s asset performance management software). Lumea will provide the connection to Transgrid’s 330 kV network in Wellington.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with AMPYR on the Wellington Stage 1 BESS, marking another step forward in strengthening Australia’s transition to a more sustainable energy future,” said Jan Teichmann, Fluence APAC SVP and President. “The full suite of Fluence’s innovative storage products and operational services will allow AMPYR to extract the most value out of the Wellington Stage 1 BESS.”

AMPYR Australia is backed by AGP, an independent global investor and asset manager that owns, develops and operates sustainable real assets across energy transition, digital transition and real estate.

The lender group for the >$340 million financing for the Wellington Stage 1 BESS includes the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bank of China, HSBC, Rabobank, Société Générale and United Overseas Bank.

AMPYR said it was also partnering with the Indigenous community in Wellington on the Stage 1 BESS, including providing an opportunity to invest directly alongside AMPYR.

“Reaching the financial close of our first grid-scale BESS project in Australia marks a significant milestone in the acceleration of Australia’s energy transition,” said Alex Wonhas, AMPYR Australia CEO.

“Supported by our high-calibre partners, ZEN Energy and Fluence, the Wellington Stage 1 BESS will play a critical role in an increasingly renewable grid whilst boosting Australia’s energy storage capacity and supporting the delivery of low-cost energy to major users.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Galeanu Mihai