Akaysha Energy Waratah battery site. Image courtesy of: EnergyCo
Grid connections for four battery energy storage projects with a combined capacity of more than 6.5 GWh are to be fast-tracked by the New South Wales government as it seeks to ensure electricity reliability as coal-fired generation exits the system.
The New South Wales (NSW) government has committed $8.4 million (USD 5.6 million) to boost the workforce required to deliver four priority battery energy storage projects after the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) warned of potential reliability gaps in the national electricity market.
The latest update to AEMO’s Electricity Statement of Opportunity has identified a reliability gap of more than 1 GW from 2025-2028 due to delays in the rollout of additional renewable generation, battery projects and new transmission.