Renewable energy company Neoen has announced the commissioning of the first phase of its energy storage project, the Collie Battery . With a capacity of 219 MW/877 MWh, this facility has become the largest battery in Western Australia, an achievement that marks the company’s commitment to the energy transition in the region.
Located near the town of Collie on the ancestral land of the Wilman people of the Bibbulmun Nation, the Collie Battery began operations on October 1 , less than 18 months after construction began. Designed to provide 197 MW of storage capacity over a 4-hour period, the battery charges energy during the day and releases it in the evening when electrical demand peaks.
The project, which was ahead of schedule, was carried out in collaboration with Tesla, UGL and Western Power , demonstrating Neoen’s ability to drive large-scale innovations in the energy sector.
Support for decarbonisation and the energy market
The Collie battery represents a step forward for Neoen and aligns with the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) decarbonisation goals, particularly in light of the phasing out of Western Australia’s coal plants and the rise of rooftop solar.
The project operates under a two-year contract with AEMO to provide Non-Co-optimized Essential System Services (NCESS), a crucial initiative to strengthen grid reliability in the face of the shift to clean energy .
Jean-Christophe Cheylus, CEO of Neoen Australia, expressed his enthusiasm for the rapid delivery of the project and thanked the entities involved for their collaboration.
With this battery, we support household investment in solar energy by absorbing excess production during the day and releasing it at night.
He pointed out.
In addition, Neoen is consolidating its position as the main battery developer in the country, with an operating portfolio of 1,925 MW and multiple projects under development.
Future stages and expansion of clean energy in Western Australia
The second phase of the Collie battery, currently under construction, is expected to add another 341 MW/1,363 MWh of capacity , bringing the total to 560 MW/2,240 MWh. Once complete, the battery is projected to supply 20% of average demand on the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS).
Storage Project – Collie Battery Stage. Source: Neoen
The Western Australian Government, through its Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action, the Honourable Reece Whitby, has underlined the state’s commitment to a cleaner energy future. The battery will support the growth of solar power and long-duration storage , an increasingly relevant technology to sustain a reliable and sustainable electricity grid.
This project, which reaffirms Neoen’s position as a leader in sustainable energy, marks a significant step towards a more resilient energy system that is less dependent on fossil fuels.
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Source: Neoen
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