Hallett battery project launched in SA

A planned 245 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Hallett, near the town of Canowie in South Australia, has reached an important stage in its development, following the achievement of financial close and the project’s transition into the delivery phase.

Partners NHOA Energy, EnergyAustralia and Enerven marked the official project launch of the BESS at a ceremony held at the Hallett Power Station, alongside government representatives, Traditional Owners and local community stakeholders.

Owned and developed by EnergyAustralia, the Hallett BESS is being built alongside the existing Hallett gas-fired power station and represents the first stage of a broader site development. 

NHOA Energy has been engaged as the battery integrator, responsible for supplying the batteries and inverters, while Enerven will deliver civil, electrical and construction works.

“By building the battery at Hallett, we’re making use of infrastructure that is already there, supporting local jobs and strengthening South Australia’s power system at the same time,” said Daniel Nugent, Trading and Transition Executive at EnergyAustralia.

“Financial close means this project is real, funded and now being built, and our focus now shifts squarely to disciplined execution and delivery.”

Enerven CEO Richard Amato said the project would deliver real benefits for the local community, from employment opportunities during construction through to long-term investment in regional energy infrastructure.

“We’re proud that our people, many of whom live and work in regional South Australia, will play a role in delivering infrastructure that strengthens the local economy and supports the energy transition,” he said.

“South Australia is where it all started for Enerven, and this great project in Hallett is particularly special because it allows us to bring that experience and capability back to our own backyard.”

As delivery partner for Stage 1 of the project, NHOA Energy will supply a BESS that delivers 245 MWh of guaranteed usable energy capacity (50 MW with five hours of storage) at beginning of life.

The system is intended to be a grid-forming solution capable of providing essential stability services to the National Electricity Market (NEM), including frequency control, grid support, energy arbitrage and participation in NEM market services. It should strengthen the resilience of South Australia’s power system while enabling the continued integration of renewable energy.

By using existing infrastructure at the Hallett Power Station, the project minimises the need for new transmission works and reduces its land and environmental impacts. To integrate the battery with a live operating energy site, NHOA Energy will deploy its proprietary PROPHET control platform, designed to support safe, reliable and coordinated operation of the combined assets.

The project will be backed under the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), a framework designed to reduce investment risk and accelerate the deployment of clean, dispatchable energy capacity, including large-scale battery storage.

“We are proud to support EnergyAustralia in a project that combines advanced grid-forming technology with a strong institutional framework such as the Capacity Investment Scheme, while making smart use of existing infrastructure,” said Adrian Marziano, VP Australia & Pacific at NHOA Energy, speaking at the official project launch ceremony.

“The Hallett BESS represents another important step in strengthening the resilience of the Australian power system while enabling the continued integration of renewable energy.”

Commissioning is expected to begin in January 2027, in line with the project’s development and testing requirements.

Image credit: iStock.com/sommart