SA's Davenport BESS changes hands

Renewable energy developer AMPYR Australia has formed an agreement with Green Gold Energy (GGE) to acquire the Davenport battery energy storage system (BESS) project in South Australia. As part of this new partnership, the BESS has been renamed the Northern Battery.

Adelaide-based renewables developer GGE has been involved with the project since 2023 and will continue to support project development with AMPYR. Construction of the grid-forming, utility-scale battery is expected to start in 2026.

The Northern Battery will provide up to eight hours of energy storage through a 270 MW battery platform. This forms part of AMPYR’s broader commitment to deliver six gigawatt hours of operational battery storage to the Australian grid by 2030, serving 10–20% of future storage demand.

One of the first decisions under the new partnership was to relocate the project to the site of the decommissioned, coal-fired Northern Power Station in Port Augusta, so as to capitalise on pre-existing substation infrastructure and minimise community impacts.

“South Australia is one of the global benchmarks in renewable generation,” said AMPYR CEO Alex Wonhas, who explained that the next phase of the state’s energy transition would be dominated by energy storage, not generation.

“The accelerated deployment of long-duration grid-scale batteries is critical to strengthening system reliability and security while reducing consumer costs,” Wonhas said.

"The Northern Battery represents more than just a storage development; it’s a symbol for the energy transition by transforming a former coal fired power station into a long-duration storage project.”

GGE Managing Director John Huang said GGE was committed to supporting South Australia, and the wider nation, on the pathway to a 100% clean energy system, while maintaining grid stability and economic efficiency throughout the transition.

“In addition to developing renewable generation assets, GGE positions utility-scale storage and microgrids as essential infrastructure for a net-zero energy system, enabling stronger system security, lower long-term costs and greater operational flexibility,” Huang said.

“GGE’s partnership with AMPYR represents a strategic milestone in this approach. The Northern Battery project is designed as an integrated model that combines grid-forming technology, intelligent storage and market-aligned dispatch, helping South Australia evolve from a leader in renewable uptake to a leader in sustainable renewable operation.

“The project is intended to serve as a scalable reference for the next phase of Australia’s energy-system transition.”

AMPYR said it was engaging closely with the Port Augusta community to ensure the Northern Battery project delivered jobs, business opportunities and other lasting benefits. This will include an initial, soon-to-be-launched $40,000 Community Benefit Fund, to provide direct support for local projects that support this community.

The energy developer added that it was already working with the Nukunu Traditional Owners to build a partnership that delivers cultural, economic and social benefits for First Nations people and supports delivery of the battery.

Image caption: Port Augusta. Image credit: iStock.com/BeyondImages